THE  UNIVERSITY 


OF  ILLINOIS 


LIBRARY 


F^95lc 


OF 


THE  MOST  REV.  P.  A.  FEEHAN,  D.  D. 


THE    LIFE 

of  ^ 

Patrick  Augustine  Feehan 

BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE 
FIRST  ARCHBISHOP  OF  CHICAGO 

1829-1902 

By 

The  Reverend  Cornelius  J.  Kirkfleet,  Ord.  Praem. 
Author  of  the  "History  of  St.  Norbert" 

With  Introduction  by 

The  Right  Reverend  Peter  James  Muldoon,  D.  D. 

Bishop  of  Rockford,  111. 


With  Sixteen  Illustrations 


Published  by 

MATRE  &  COMPANY 

CHICAGO 
1922 


Approbatio  Or  dints 

Die  16  Jan.  1922— Depere,  Wis. 


B.  H.  Pennings,  O.  Praem. 
Prior. 


Nihil   Obstat 

Joannes  B.  Furay,  S.  J. 

Censor  Deputatus 


Imprimatur 

*&   Georgius  Gulielmus  Mundelein 

Archiepiscopus  Chicagiensis 
Die  6  Februarii  1922 


COPYRIGHT,  1922,  BY 
MATEE  &  COMPANY 

All  Eights  Reserved 
Printed  in  the  United  States 


J 


TABLE     OF    CONTENTS 

PAGE 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS .     xi 

PREFACE xiii 

INTRODUCTION xv 

CHAPTER  I 
HIS  CHILDHOOD 

HIS  BIRTH — HIS  PARENTS — THE  FEEHAN  FAMILY  OF 
ANCIENT  LINEAGE — THE  IRISH  A  UBIQUITOUS  RACE — 
PHIL.  KEARNEY — THE  ARCHBISHOP'S  PHYSIQUE — HIS 
IDEAL  CATHOLIC  HOME-LIFE — HIS  EDUCATION — HIS 
LOVE  FOR  BOOKS — THE  BALL-ALLEY — AT  THE  HOME 
OF  HIS  GRANDFATHER — THE  O'CONNELL  MONSTER- 
MEETINGS — HE  RETURNS  TO  HIS  HOME — THE  IVY- 
COVERED  TREE  .  .  .  .  .  .  1-10 

CHAPTER  II 
THE  YOUNG  MAN 

CONDITION  OF  THE  POOR  IN  THOSE  DAYS — YOUNG  FEEHAN 
TAKES  THEIR  PART — IS  FOND  OF  ATHLETICS — BARNEY 
HEALY  TAKES  THE  PLEDGE — PATRICK  STUDIES  GAELIC — 
IS  KNOWN  TO  BE  DESTINED  FOR  THE  MINISTRY — IS 
GUIDED  BY  HIS  FATHER  IN  READING  MATTER — DEATH 
OF  HIS  SISTER — HE  TELLS  HIS  MOTHER  OF  HIS  VOCA- 
TION— GOES  TO  CASTLE  KNOCK — CHARLES  RUSSELL — 
THE  FAMILY  LEAVES  IRELAND — PATRICK'S  LOVE  FOR 
HIS  PATRON  SAINT — HIS  COMING  TO  AMERICA  .  11-21 

CHAPTER  III 
THE  MISSIONARY 

SAYS  FAREWELL  TO  HIS  NATIVE  COUNTRY — AT  THE  SEM- 
INARY OF  CARONDELET — IS  ORDAINED  TO  THE  PRIEST- 
HOOD IN  ST.  LOUIS — TEACHES  IN  THE  SEMINARY — THE 

iii 


i 


694604 


iv  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS 

PAGE 

TALENTED  YOUNG  PREACHER — CHOLERA  EPIDEMIC  IN 
ST.  LOUIS — MRS.  GOTSEL,  THE  HOUSEKEEPER — FEEHAN 
IS  MADE  PRESIDENT  OF  CARONDELET — BECOMES  PAS- 
TOR— NEVER  ASKS  FOR  MONEY — THE  PRIEST  OF  THE 
POOR — HIS  VISITS  TO  THE  JAIL — HE  HELPS  THE 
PRISONERS — HIS  VISITS  TO  HIS  MOTHER — ESTABLISHES 
A  HOSPITAL  FOR  WOUNDED  SOLDIERS — MAKES  NUMER- 
OUS CONVERTS 22-33 

CHAPTER  IV 
THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE 

DEATH  OF  HIS  MOTHER — IS  MADE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE — 
HIS  CONSECRATION  IN  ST.  LOUIS — HIS  ARRIVAL  IN 
NASHVILLE — CONDITIONS  IN  THE  SOUTH — THE  DIOCESE 
A  BARREN  MORASS — CONSEQUENCES  OF  THE  WAR — THE 
BISHOP  BRINGS  LIFE  INTO  THE  DIOCESE — THE  DOMIN- 
ICAN SISTERS — THE  BISHOP'S  LOVE  FOR  THE  ORPHANS 
— HIS  LOVE  FOR  CATHOLIC  SCHOOLS — THE  CHOLERA 
EPIDEMIC  IN  NASHVILLE  34-43 


HIS  WORK  THROUGHOUT  THE  DIOCESE — RESULTS  OF  HIS 
EFFORTS  SOON  VISIBLE — SOME  OF  THE  EXPERIENCES  ON 
HIS  VISITATION  TOURS — THE  CHURCH  AT  MEMPHIS — 
TRANSFER  OF  FATHER  WALSH — THE  BISHOP'S  AN- 
SWER TO  THE  COMMITTEE — SOME  FINE  TRAITS  OF 
CHARACTER — CALVARY  CEMETERY  AT  MEMPHIS — HOW 
THE  BISHOP  HATED  FLATTERY — HIS  AVERSION  TO 
TRAVEL — AN  AMUSING  INCIDENT — HIS  WORK  OF  FIF- 
TEEN YEARS  IN  THE  DIOCESE  ....  44-54 

CHAPTER  VI 
THE  YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC 

THE  EXTENT  OF  THE  PLAGUE — EVERY  WORSHIPPER  AT 
CHURCH  IN  MOURNING — IN  MEMPHIS  TWENTY  NUNS 
AND  FIVE  PRIESTS  DIE — THE  DOMINICAN  FATHERS — 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS  v 

PAGE 

THE  FEVER  OF  1878 — ACTS  OF  HEROISM  OF  BISHOP  AND 
PRIESTS — NAMES  OF  PRIEST-HEROES — TRYING  POSITION 
OF  BISHOP  FEEHAN — HE  PREACHES  THE  FUNERAL  ORA- 
TION OF  TWELVE  OF  HIS  PRIESTS  .  .  .  55-65 

CHAPTER  VII 
THE  BISHOP  LEAVES  NASHVILLE 

CHICAGO  MADE  AN  ARCHBISHOPRIC — BISHOP  FEEHAN  AP- 
POINTED ARCHBISHOP — HIS  FAREWELL — A  COMMITTEE 
WAITS  ON  HIM — THEIR  SPEECHES — A  PURSE  IS  PRE- 
SENTED TO  HIM — THE  BISHOP'S  LOVE  FOR  THE 
SOUTH — THE  ADDRESS  OF  THE  CLERGY  ON  THE 
TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  HIS  ORDINATION — A 
LETTER  FROM  FATHER  GLEESON — BISHOP  FEEHAN  AND 
THE  CATHOLIC  KNIGHTS  OF  AMERICA  .  .  66-78 

CHAPTER  VIII 
HIS  COMING  TO  CHICAGO 

HIS  ENTHUSIASTIC  RECEPTION — HIS  INVESTITURE — READ- 
ING OF  PAPAL  BULL — THE  SERMON  BY  ARCHBISHOP 
FEEHAN — FURTHER  DETAILS  OF  THE  CELEBRATION  79-95 

CHAPTER  IX 
RECEPTION  OF  THE  PALLIUM 

DETAILS  OF  THE  SOLEMN  INSTALLATION  IN  THE  CATHE- 
DRAL— THE  SERMON  BY  BISHOP  HOGAN — MEANING  OF 
THE  PALLIUM — WHEN  AND  HOW  MADE  AND  BLESSED — 
THE  PALLIUM  IS  PLACED  UPON  HIS  SHOULDERS  .  96-114 

CHAPTER  X 
THE  ARCHBISHOP 

CONDITION  OF  THE  DIOCESE — HIS  FIRST  OFFICIAL  ACT — THE 
CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  MC  MULLEN — DEATH  OF 
FATHER  ST.  CYR — THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP 


vi  TABLE   OF    CONTENTS 

PAGE 

RIORDAN — THE  ARCHBISHOP  IS  SUMMONED  TO  ROME — 
A  TESTIMONIAL  BANQUET — ADDRESS  BY  VICAR  GENERAL 
CONWAY — REPLY  BY  THE  ARCHBISHOP — A  FULL  AC- 
COUNT OF  THE  DEPARTURE  ....  115-126 

CHAPTER  XI 
HIS  RETURN  FROM  ROME 

A  LARGE  DELEGATION  MEETS  HIM — OBJECT  OF  HIS  MISSION 
IN  ROME — DETAILED  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP'S 
RECEPTION  AT  VALPARAISO — THE  SPEECHES — HIS  RE- 
TURN TO  CHICAGO — THE  GRAND  DEMONSTRATION — HE 
SPEAKS  IN  THE  CATHEDRAL — THE  WELCOME  FROM  HIS 
CLERGY — ADDRESS  OF  FATHER  CONWAY — THE  WEL- 
COME FROM  THE  LAITY ADDRESS  BY  HON.  HENRY  F. 

SHERIDAN — SPEECHES   IN  DIFFERENT  LANGUAGES     127-148 

CHAPTER  XII 
ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE 

THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  BALTIMORE  COUNCIL — THE  ARCH- 
BISHOP'S  INTEREST  IN  EDUCATION — THE  SCHOOLS  HE 
BUILT  IN  CHICAGO — THE  GREAT  FINANCIER — A  CELE- 
BRATED LAW  CASE — PROGRESS  OF  THE  ARCHDIOCESE — 
THE  FIRST  DIOCESAN  SYNOD — PERMANENT  RECTORS 
APPOINTED — BOARD  OF  SCHOOL  EXAMINERS — RURAL 
DEANS 149-166 

CHAPTER  XIII 
FEEHANVILLE 

GENERAL  CONDITIONS  IN  CHICAGO — INFLUENCE  OF  THE 
PRIESTHOOD — PLANS  ARE  FORMED  FOR  AN  INDUSTRIAL 
TRAINING  SCHOOL — LAYING  OF  THE  CORNERSTONE — 
STATE  ASSISTANCE — THE  CHARTER — SOLEMN  DEDICA- 
TION— ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CELEBRATION — VARIOUS 
SPEECHES — BUILDINGS  DESTROYED  BY  FIRE — SCHEDULE 
OF  ASSESSMENT  OF  PARISHES  FOR  REBUILDING  167-188 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS  vii 

CHAPTER  XIV 
HIS  SILVER  JUBILEE 

PAGE 

A  SPECTACLE  OF  MAGNIFICENCE — THE  CELEBRATION  IN  THE 
CATHEDRAL — THE  SERMON  BY  BISHOP  HOGAN — THE 
DINNER — ADDRESS  BY  VICAR  GENERAL  DOWLING — THE 
PROGRAMME — THE  CELEBRATION  AT  NIGHT — THE 
MARCHING 189-200 

CHAPTER  XV 
THE  CHILDREN'S  CELEBRATION 

FIVE  THOUSAND  CHILDREN  PRESENT — THE  PROGRAMME — 
TWO  ADDRESSES  FROM  THE  ORPHANS — ADDRESS  BY  THE 
BOYS  FROM  FEEHANVILLE — SPEECH  BY  ARCHBISHOP 
FEEHAN — POEM  BY  JOHN  T.  MC  NELLIS  201-211 


(Second  Day) 

THE  ARCHBISHOP  IS  SHOWN  TO  BE  A  FATHER  TO  ALL 
NATIONALITIES — THE  ADDRESSES  IN  VARIOUS  LAN- 
GUAGES— ADDRESS  BY  THE  NEGRO  CATHOLICS — 
SPEECH  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP — HIS  GRATITUDE  .  212-219 

CHAPTER  XVII 
THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH 

INCREASE  OF  CATHOLIC  POPULATION  IN  CHICAGO — INCREASE 
IN  NUMBER  OF  CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS  AND  CHARITABLE 
ORGANIZATIONS — THE  "NEW  WORLD"  IS  ESTABLISHED- 
LIST  OF  ORIGINAL  PROMOTERS — THE  CONSECRATION  OF 
BISHOP  DUNNE — MASTERFUL  ADDRESS  OF  THE  ARCH- 
BISHOP ON  CATHOLIC  EDUCATION — HIS  GENEROSITY 

HIS  KINDNESS  TO  THE  NUNS — HIS  UNTIRING  EFFORTS 

IN  BEHALF  OF  THE  OUTCAST  OF  SOCIETY  220-233 


viii  TABLE   OF    CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
THE  FRIEND  OF  CATHOLIC  SOCIETIES 

PAGE 
WHY    CERTAIN    SOCIETIES    WERE    CONDEMNED    BY    ROME — 

THE  ARCHBISHOP  GRASPS  THE  SITUATION — HE  AN- 
TICIPATES THE  ENCYCLICAL  LETTER  OF  POPE  LEO  XIII — 
THE  CATHOLIC  KNIGHTS  OF  AMERICA — HIS  LOVE  FOR 
ALL  CATHOLIC  SOCIETIES — HE-  BECOMES  THEIR  CHAM- 
PION— HIS  DEFENSE  OF  THE  A.  O.  H. — THE  TESTIMONY 
OF  ARCHBISHOP  IRELAND — THE  PROMOTER  OF  TEM- 
PERANCE SOCIETIES — HIS  SPEECH  AT  THE  TEM- 
PERANCE CONGRESS  IN  CHICAGO — SKETCH  OF  THE 
ORIGIN  OF  THE  CATHOLIC  ORDER  OF  FORESTERS  .  234-257 

CHAPTER  XIX 
THE  WORLD'S  FAIR 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SECOND  CATHOLIC 
CONGRESS — TOPICS  TREATED — HIS  WELCOME  SPEECH 
— THE  GENERAL  INTEREST  IN  THE  CONGRESS — THE 
CATHOLIC  EDUCATIONAL  DAY — THE  ADDRESS  OF  THE 
ARCHBISHOP — THE  MAGNIFICENT  CATHOLIC  EXHIBIT — 

THE  "PROTECTOR  OF  OUR  SCHOOLS"    .        .        .   25&-27G 

CHAPTER  XX 
HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND 

SPEECH  ON  MOORE — SERMON  ON  ST.  PATRICK — SPEECH  IN 
ANSWER  TO  THE  TOAST:  "THE  CATHOLIC  HIERARCHY 
AND  CLERGY  OF  IRELAND" — HIS  LOVE  FOR  THE  IRISH 
SOCIETIES — COLONEL  FINERTY'S  COMMENT — HIS  LOVE 
FOR  AMERICA — THE  TRUE  AMERICAN — HIS  LOVE  FOR 
THE  AMERICAN  FLAG 277-298 

CHAPTER  XXI 

BISHOP  McGAVICK'S  CONSECRATION 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN'S  FAILING  HEALTH — CONSECRATION 
OF  BISHOP  MC  GAVICK — THE  DINNER — SPEECH  BY  THE 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS  ix 

PAGE 

ARCHBISHOP — SPEECH  OF  BISHOP  MC  GAVICK — ILLNESS 
OF  THE  NEW  AUXILIARY — PETITION  FOR  OTHER 
AUXILIARY 299-305 

CHAPTER  XXII 
BISHOP  MULDOON'S  CONSECRATION 

IMPRESSIVE  SCENE  AT  THE  CATHEDRAL — OFFICERS  OF  THE 
MASS — THE  NUMBER  OF  BISHOPS  AND  PRIESTS — THE 
CELEBRATION — THE  REV.  TINAN'S  SPEECH — ANSWER 
BY  THE  ARCHBISHOP — SPEECH  OF  REV.  THIELE — 
ANSWER  BY  BISHOP  MULDOON — THE  GREAT  DEMON- 
STRATION AT  NIGHT  ,  306-319 


HIS  SUDDEN  DEATH — COMMENTS  BY  VICAR-GENERAL  FITZ- 
SIMMONS  AND  MR.  LUTHER  LAFLIN — BODY  LIES  IN 
STATE — NOTICES  FOR  FUNERAL — CONDITION  OF  THE 
ARCHDIOCESE — STATISTICS — TRIBUTE  BY  NEWSPAPERS 
— LETTERS  OF  CONDOLENCE  ....  320-335 

CHAPTER  XXIV 
THE  SOLEMN  FUNERAL 

A  MOST  IMPOSING  CEREMONY — OFFICERS  OF  THE  MASS — 
DIGNITARIES  PRESENT — SERMON  BY  ARCHBISHOP  RYAN 
— REFERENCE  TO  THE  CROWLEY  SCANDAL — THE  RELA- 
TIVES OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP — PROCESSION  TO  THE 
CEMETERY — REMOVAL  OF  THE  BODY — THE  MONU- 
MENT    336-347 

CHAPTER  XXV 
ECHOES  OF  THE  FUNERAL 

EDITORIAL  COMMENT  BY  SECULAR  PAPERS  :  TRIBUNE,  INTER- 
OCEAN,  DAILY  NEWS,  JOURNAL  AND  EVENING  POST — 
CATHOLIC  PRESS  COMMENT:  PITTSBURGH  OBSERVER, 


TABLE   OF    CONTENTS 

CATHOLIC  JOURNAL  AND  NEWS,  MEMPHIS,  TENN., 
IOWA  CATHOLIC  MESSENGER,  THE  REVIEW,  ST.  LOUIS, 
MO.,  THE  CATHOLIC  UNIVERSE,  THE  CATHOLIC  TRAN- 
SCRIPT, THE  WESTERN  WATCHMAN,  THE  NEW 
WORLD  348-^366 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SUMMARY  .  367 


APPENDIX— DOCUMENTS 

NO.    1.      TESTIMONIAL    LETTERS     OF    THE     ORDINATION     OF 

PATRICK    FEEHAN 369 

NO.   2.      BRIEF  OF  NOMINATION  OF  FATHER  FEEHAN  TO  THE 

SEE  OF  NASHVILLE,  TENN 370-372 

NO.   3-4.     LETTERS      OF      CARDINAL      SIMEONI      TO      BISHOP 

FEEHAN 373-374 

NO.  5.     BULL  OF  THE  ELEVATION  OF  BISHOP  FEEHAN  TO 

THE  ARCHDIOCESE  OF  CHICAGO  .        .        .   374-376 

NO.  6.    BULL    OF    ERECTION    OF    THE    ARCHDIOCESE    OF 

CHICAGO 376-378 

NO.  7.     LETTER  FROM  THE  APOSTOLIC  DELEGATE  CONCERN- 
ING THE  REV.  JEREMIAH  J.  CROWLEY       .   378-379 

NO.  8.     LETTERS  OF  EXCOMMUNICATION  OF  THE  REV.  J.  J. 

CROWLEY    .  .     380-381 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

THE  MOST  REV.  P.  A.  FEEHAN,  D.  D.      .        .   Frontispiece 

FEEHAN  THE  STUDENT     .        .     ' 18 

FEEHAN  AT  CARONDOLET 26 

THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE,  TENN.  ....  34 
THE  RT.  REV.  JOHN  MCMULLEN,  D.  D.  .  .  .79 
THE  MOST  REV.  PATRICK  W.  RIORDAN,  D.  D.  .  .  117 

THE  VERY  REV.  P.  J.  CONWAY,  V.  G 127 

THE  RT.  REV.  MAURICE  F.  BURKE,  D.  D.  .  .  .  160 
THE  VERY  REV.  D.  M.  J.  BOWLING,  V.  G.  .  .  .  194 
THE  VERY  REV.  JAMES  McGovERN,  D.  D.  .  .  .  212 
THE  RT.  REV.  EDWARD  JOSEPH  DUNNE,  D.  D.  .  .  224 

THE  PROTECTOR  OF  OUR  SCHOOLS 273 

THE  RT.  REV.  ALEXANDER  J.  MCGAVICK,  D.  D.  .  .  299 
THE  RT.  REV.  PETER  JAMES  MULDOON,  D.  D.  .  .  306 
THE  VERY  REV.  M.  J.  FITZSIMMONS,  V.  G.  .  .  .  322 
MOTHER  MARY  CATHERINE  FEEHAN  .  345 


PREFACE 

DURING  the  summer  of  1918  great  interest  was 
aroused  in  local  Catholic  historical  matters  by  the 
organization  of  the  Illinois  Catholic  Historical  Society. 
The  first  number  of  its  excellent  Review  appeared  in 
July  and  caused  not  only  history  to  be  the  topic  of 
conversation  in  many  Catholic  circles,  but  also  led  a 
number  of  people  to  rummage  through  old  papers  and 
family  relics  hidden  in  closets  and  covered  with  dust. 
I  was  visiting  friends  at  the  time  and  was  given  the 
pleasure  of  glancing  through  an  old  scrap-book  kept 
for  years  by  a  pious  nun  in  one  of  the  convents  of 
Chicago.  It  contained  newspaper  clippings,  speeches, 
articles,  etc.,  that  had  reference  to  Patrick  Augustine 
Feehan,  first  Archbishop  of  Chicago.  The  more  I  read 
the  more  deeply  I  became  interested  in  the  life  of  this 
providential  servant  of  God  and  resolved  to  rescue  this 
historical  material  from  oblivion.  I  began  gathering 
data  about  his  early  life  and  found  a  kind  and  enthu- 
siastic helper  in  the  Rt.  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Rockford,  111.  With  the  substantial  assistance 
of  this  intimate  friend  of  Archbishop  Feehan  I  tried 
to  retouch  that  beautiful  portrait,  fading  perhaps  from 
the  memory  of  a  large  number  of  friends  and  admirers. 
Credit  should  also  be  given  to  the  Rev.  James  J. 
McGovern,  D.  D.,  author  of  the  "Souvenir  of  the  Most 
Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan's  Silver  Jubilee."  Furthermore, 
the  interesting  works  of  the  Rev.  D.  A.  Quinn,  "Heroes 
and  Heroines  of  Memphis,"  and  the  proceedings  of  the 
"World's  Catholic  Congresses  and  Educational  Ex- 
hibit," published  by  J.  S.  Hyland  and  Co.  in  1893,  fur- 

xiii 


xiv  PREFACE 

nished  me  with  numerous  data  and  interesting  accounts 
of  the  various  happenings  of  this  period. 

To  what  extent  I  have  succeeded  in  retouching  the 
fading  portrait,  the  reader  may  judge;  I  at  least  have 
the  satisfaction  of  having  saved  the  historical  material 
scattered  through  books  and  papers,  as  well  as  the  per- 
sonal recollections  of  some  intimate  friends  of  the  great 
Metropolitan  of  Chicago. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Sept.  13,  1921. 

St.  Patrick's  Church, 

Maytown,  Sublette,  111. 


INTRODUCTION 

WHEN  the  author  of  this  biography  asked  me  to 
write  a  short  Introduction,  I  was  reading  "The 
Centennial  History  of  Illinois."  With  sadness  I 
noticed  that  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  "The  Growth 
of  Education,  Art  and  Letters,"  for  the  years  1893- 
1918,  with  the  exception  of  two  and  one-half  lines  refer- 
ring to  one  high  school,  there  was  nothing  said  of  the 
great  Catholic  school  system  comprising  grammar  and 
high  schools,  colleges  and  universities.  Also  in  the 
chapter  "Illinois  and  the  Great  War"  there  is  not 
even  a  passing  mention  of  the  large  share  the  Catholic 
schools  of  all  grades  had  in  assisting  the  various  relief 
organizations  during  the  war.  We  are  told  that,  "The 
State  Council  of  Defense  received  valuable  assistance 
and  co-operation  from  the  public  schools  of  the  State, 
and  from  the  University  of  Illinois,  the  State  Normal 
Schools,  the  University  of  Chicago,  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity and  the  colleges."  This  statement  permits  the 
reader  to  suspect  that  the  parochial  schools  and  the 
Catholic  institutions  for  higher  education  of  the  State 
of  Illinois  held  back  and  did  not  do  their  full  share.  I 
doubt  if  any  were  more  patriotic  in  the  great  crisis  or 
worked  more  diligently  to  give  aid  and  to  sustain  the 
authority  of  the  State  and  Nation  than  did  the  pupils 
and  teachers  in  our  institutions. 

Why  these  omissions?  I  cannot  believe  that  it  is 
entirely  intentional;  but  it  is  surprising  to  find  state 
historians  apparently  knowing  so  little  of  the  great 
moral,  cultural,  and  educational  force  constantly  at 
work  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  I  think,  in  part,  we 

XV 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

Catholics  are  to  blame,  as  we  have  not  put  the  glorious 
records  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  State  in  more 
acceptable  and  obtainable  form.  What  a  blessing  a 
history  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Illinois  would  be! 
Such  a  work  would  make  it  impossible  for  any  fair 
historian  to  pass  by  the  magnificent  work  of  the  Church 
in  an  article  on  "The  Growth  of  Education,  Art  and 
Letters,"  during  a  most  fertile  period  of  our  State 
history  (1893-1918).  Again,  how  useful  would  be  a 
history  of  the  sacrifices,  achievements  and  struggles  of 
the  Church  in  this  State  in  the  iclass-rooms  of  our 
Catholic  schools ! 

The  present  volume  is  given  to  the  public  with  the 
affectionate  desire  to  perpetuate  by  a  feeble  tribute  of 
respect  and  admiration  the  memory  of  the  Most  Rev- 
erend Patrick  Augustine  Feehan,  truly  worthy  of  being 
entered  among  the  "Makers  of  America."  He  left  his 
native  land  when  ecclesiastical  superiors  would  have 
been  happy  to  retain  him  on  account  of  his  unusual 
talents,  and  when  his  Alma  Mater  desired  to  crown  him 
with  honors  by  placing  him  in  the  professor's  chair. 
He  brushed  aside  all  offers  that  he  might  with  zeal 
and  sacrifice  defend  and  expound  the  cause  of  Christ 
in  the  then  Far  West.  He  would  be  the  shepherd  of 
scattered  immigrants  rather  than  the  professor  of  the 
clerical  youth  of  Ireland.  The  very  motive  power 
renders  such  a  life  interesting.  To  be  driven  by  God's 
grace  to  give  up  the  conveniences  that  are  inherent  to 
a  well-established  ecclesiastical  order,  for  the  sacrifices, 
uncertainties,  and  hardships  of  a  missionary  life,  makes 
the  recipient  of  such  a  vocation  well  worthy  of  more 
than  passing  notice. 

How  faithfully  this  talented  son  of  Erin  followed 
the  call  of  the  Holy  Spirit  this  biography  endeavors 


INTRODUCTION  xvii 

to  relate.  That  it  is  a  complete  work  the  author  does 
not  pretend,  as  we  are  yet  too  close  to  the  majestic 
figure.  Future  historians  will,  no  doubt,  give  an  ampler 
and  more  perfect  account  of  the  life  and  deeds  of  the 
first  Archbishop  of  Chicago.  All  major  ascertainable 
facts  have  been  given  here,  but,  unfortunately  for  the 
biographer,  his  subject  kept  little  in  the  way  of  cor- 
respondence, and  the  few  letters  and  documents  that 
came  from  his  portfolio  did  not  concern  the  most  im- 
portant phases  of  his  life.  This  volume,  however,  will 
keep  in  permanent  form  the  larger  engagements  of  this 
faithful  soldier  of  the  Cross.  I  think  the  author  has 
drawn  a  faithful  picture  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  and 
all  who  knew  him  will  find  pleasure  in  lingering  with 
loving  admiration  over  the  features  of  this  spiritual 
father  and  friend. 

Throughout  the  work  you  will  find  Archbishop  Fee- 
han ever  the  same  quiet,  retiring  gentleman.  As  Arch- 
bishop Ryan  said:  "He  was  the  same  as  a  young  priest 
in  St.  Louis  as  he  was  as  Archbishop  of  Chicago."  He 
never  complained  of  difficulties  and  never  shirked  a 
duty.  Quietly  and  without  comment  he  accepted  the 
hard  conditions  that  were  present  when  he  went  to 
Nashville.  The  work  of  reconstruction  was  accom- 
plished so  quietly  and  apparently  so  easily  that  all  were 
surprised. 

When  the  Archbishop  came  to  Chicago,  the  city  was 
still  bearing  the  marks  of  the  great  fire  and  recovering 
from  the  effects  of  the  financial  panic  of  1873.  The 
history  of  immigration  shows  that  following  each  finan- 
cial panic  the  stream  of  immigrants  has  lessened.  Thus 
after  1873  immigration  was  comparatively  small  and  in 
1878  the  number  of  immigrants  was  only  138,000, 
whereas  in  1873  it  was  457,000.  However,  in  1880, 

2— Feb.    22. 


xviii  INTRODUCTION 

when  Archbishop  Feehan  came  to  Chicago  they  num- 
bered above  400,000,  and  in  1882  a  new  record  was 
made  with  789,000.  The  Italian  immigrants  coming  to 
this  country  in  1870  numbered  3,000;  in  1880,  12,000, 
and  in  1890  their  number  was  100,000.  Also  the  Slavs 
came  in  large  numbers  during  these  same  years,  and 
unfortunately  most  of  these  immigrants  went  to  the 
large  centers  of  population.  Chicago  saw  them  coming 
to  her  gates  in  unusually  great  numbers.  The  Catholic 
proportion  of  this  army  was  very  great  and  the  question 
was  how  to  give  churches  and  schools  to  this  multitude, 
poor  in  the  goods  of  this  world,  and  without  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  English  language.  The  Archbishop  took 
up  the  gigantic  task  without  any  misgiving  or  perturba- 
tion. It  was  in  nearly  every  respect  a  new  situation 
and  required  delicacy  of  judgment  and  unusual  patience. 
How  well  he  accomplished  his  task  the  comparative 
table  of  churches  and  schools  (1880-1902)  will  tell 
better  than  any  words  of  mine.  Through  it  all  he  had 
great  faith  in  the  newly  arrived  immigrants  for  he  often 
said:  "All  will  come  out  well,  for  these  people  have 
faith." 

He  was  most  sympathetic  toward  all  the  races  coming 
to  our  shores  and  his  idea  of  Americanization  was  kind- 
ness, sympathy,  coupled  with  aid  during  their  first 
years  in  the  United  States.  He  said  once  that  he  feared 
the  result  if  the  newcomers  would  too  rapidly  discard 
their  old-country  habits,  customs,  or  language.  The 
change,  he  explained,  would  have  to  be  gradual,  and 
come  from  their  own  appreciation  of  the  United  States 
and  the  blessings  conferred,  rather  than  from  a  too 
forced  action  from  without.  His  idea  was  persuasion 
rather  than  compulsion. 

To  provide  priests,  churches,  and  in  part  schools  for 


INTRODUCTION  xix 

these  immigrants  during  the  high  tide  of  this  exodus 
from  the  Old  World  was  a  labor  of  love  for  him,  and 
that  he  enjoyed  the  affection  and  confidence  of  all  the 
elements  of  the  great  cosmopolitan  city  can  be  affirmed 
without  fear  of  contradiction. 

On  the  pedestal  of  the  marble  statue  of  Archbishop 
Feehan,  which  graced  the  Chicago  Catholic  school 
exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair,  these  words  were  inscribed : 
"Patron  of  Our  Schools."  His  constant  attention  to 
the  welfare  of  the  schools  well  merited  this  affectionate 
tribute.  It  was  during  the  administration  of  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  that  the  Archdiocese  recorded  more  chil- 
dren under  Catholic  care  than  any  other  diocese  in  the 
Western  States,  and  that  record  has  been  maintained 
until  the  present,  through  the  earnest  solicitude  of  his 
successors. 

Sincere  in  thought  and  action,  the  only  one  the  Arch- 
bishop never  understood  was  the  flatterer  or  him  who 
acted  a  double  part.  His  views  were  large,  and  his 
heart  was  generous,  but  withal  he  was  most  economical 
in  his  administration  of  church  funds,  and  unusually 
frugal  in  his  personal  habits.  It  can  be  said  of  Arch- 
bishop Feehan,  I  think,  without  exaggeration,  that  he 
was  truly  a  Prince  of  the  Church,  in  thought,  word, 
and  deed. 

The  writing  of  this  short  Introduction  affords  me 
an  opportunity  to  publicly  express  my  undying  grati- 
tude to  my  benefactor,  friend  and  superior. 

fi&  PETER  JAMES  MULDOON,  D.  D., 

Bishop  of  Rockford,  111. 


CHAPTER  I 

HIS  CHILDHOOD 

HIS  BIRTH — HIS  PARENTS — THE  FEEHAN  FAMILY  OF  ANCIENT 
LINEAGE — THE  IRISH  A  UBIQUITOUS  RACE — PHIL  KEAR- 
NEY— THE  ARCHBISHOP'S  PHYSIQUE — HIS  IDEAL  CATHOLIC 

HOME-LIFE — HIS  EDUCATION — HIS  LOVE  FOR  BOOKS — THE 
BALL-ALLEY — AT  THE  HOME  OF  HIS  GRANDFATHER — THE 
O'CONNELL  MONSTER  MEETINGS — HE  RETURNS  HOME — THE 
IVY-COVERED  TREE. 

PATRICK  AUGUSTINE  FEEHAN.,  first  Archbishop  of 
Chicago,  was  born  August  28,  1829,  at  Killenaule, 
County  Tipperary,  Ireland.  His  father,  Patrick  Fee- 
han,  was  a  man  of  large  and  robust  body,  of  strong 
and  active  mind,  and  remarkable  for  his  distinguished 
appearance,  courtly  manners,  and  scholarly  attainments. 
His  mother  also  possessed  many  of  those  qualities  that 
were  so  strikingly  noticeable  in  her  distinguished  son. 
She  was  of  a  modest,  retiring  disposition,  reserved  and 
unostentatious;  intensely  devoted  to  her  children  and 
careful  of  keeping  them  from  anything  that  in  the 
slightest  degree  might  interfere  with  the  old  faith,  of 
which  she  was  intensely  proud,  and  to  which  she  was 
all  her  long  life  sincerely  devoted. 

The  Feehan  family  is  one  of  ancient  lineage,  as  may 
be  inferred  from  an  inscription  engraved  upon  an  old 
tomb  in  a  deserted  cemetery.  On  a  green  slope  in  Innis- 
fail,  at  the  foot  of  Slievnamon  in  Tipperary,  stands 
within  a  deserted  cemetery  a  Celtic  cross,  furrowed  by 
the  storms  of  centuries :  it  was  there  when  the  first  savage 
Viking  came  to  Erin,  and  when  the  last  Dane  was  driven 
out  of  the  land;  it  was  a  silent  witness  to  the  ravages 
of  the  more  savage  and  "ruthless  Cromwellian."  At  the 
foot  of  this  cross  is  the  tomb  worn  and  old  as  the  cross 


2  THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

itself  on  which  is  engraved,  in  the  Gaelic  tongue, 
"FEEHAN."  The  last  of  Archbishop  Feehan's  im- 
mediate family  buried  there  was  a  much  loved  sister. 
The  branch  of  the  family  from  which  the  Archbishop  is 
immediately  descended  is  that  in  the  city  of  Waterf ord, 
where  for  many  years  one  of  the  members  filled  the  office 
of  Lord  Mayor.  The  brilliant  and  patriotic  Thomas 
Francis  Meagher  belonged  to  this  same  branch. 

The  Archbishop's  father  was  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  two  sisters  and  three  brothers.  The  sisters  married 
merchants  in  the  city;  the  oldest  brother,  Martin,  chose 
the  life  of  a  farmer  and  settled  in  Graystown  near  the 
old  castle  of  that  name,  in  the  County  Tipperary; 
Edward,  next  in  age,  became  a  priest  and  died  soon 
after  his  ordination;  the  youngest,  Patrick,  left  home  to 
visit  the  New  World,  either  in  order  to  escape  his  father's 
solicitations  to  study  for  the  bar,  or  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  beloved  brother.  He  never  reached  the 
New  World,  for  during  the  voyage  he  suffered  ship- 
wreck. He  lived  for  three  days  on  an  iceberg  without 
food  or  drink,  and  when  at  last  he  was  rescued,  he  re- 
turned to  Ireland  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  his  brother 
Martin's  in  Springhill.  In  1825,  February  21st,  he 
married  Judith,  the  oldest  daughter  of  John  Cooney  of 
Coleman.1  This  family  with  its  many  branches,  as  well 
as  the  family  of  the  Feehans,  gave  many  bishops,  priests 
and  missionaries  to  foreign  lands ;  they  have  been  called 
"Levitical  families."  Their  traditions  are  rich  with 

i  The  following  record  was  found  among1  the  Archbishop's  papers: 
"Ex  registro  hujus  Parochiae  constat  Patritium  Feehan  de  Killenaule  et 
Judith  Cooney  de  Coleman  junctos  fuisse  in  matrimonium  die  21a  Februarii, 
1825 — testibus:     Joanne  Cooney,  Alicia  Cooney  et  aliis." 

Ita  testor  hac  7a  die  Aprilis,  1850.  Gulielmus  Heffernan, 

Pastor  de  Clerihan. 
(Translation). 

From  the  register  of  this  parish  it  is  certain  that  Patrick  Feehan  of 
Killenaule  and  Judith  Cooney  of  Coleman  were  united  in  marriage  February 
21,  1825 — witnesses:     John  Cooney,  Alice  Cooney  and  others. 
I  thus  hereby  testify  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  1850. 

"William  Heffernan, 
Pastor  of  Clerihan. 


HIS   CHILDHOOD  3 

legends  of  the  days  of  St.  Patrick,  his  sojournings 
among  them,  and  the  relics  they  possessed  of  those  days 
of  Erin's  glory.  The  most  remarkable  legend  concerns 
a  crozier,  which  the  Saint  is  said  to  have  bequeathed 
to  one  of  their  ancestors,  named  Kearney,  with  the 
prophecy  that  the  faith  should  never  die  out  in  that 
family. 

In  1869,  when  Archbishop  Feehan,  then  Bishop  of 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  visited  Rome,  he  met  an  Irish  bishop 
who  told  him  that  this  prophecy  of  St.  Patrick  had 
proved  false,  since  just  a  few  days  previous  the  last 
of  the  "Kearneys"  had  died.  Bishop  Feehan  seemed 
much  disturbed  over  this  news  but  after  a  moment's 
hesitation  said  hopefully:  "You  know,  Bishop,  the 
Irish  are  a  ubiquitous  race.  It  is  quite  possible  that 
some  of  the  'Kearneys'  are  living  in  another  country." 
A  few  days  later  the  two  bishops  met  again,  and  said 
the  one  from  Ireland:  "I  am  glad  I  met  you,  Bishop, 
for  I  have  strange  news  for  you.  The  very  day  the 
last  of  the  'Kearneys'  died  in  Ireland,  the  widow  of 
'Fighting  Phil'  Kearney  and  her  children  were  bap- 
tized in  Rome.  About  two  hundred  years  ago,  one  of 
them  settled  in  New  Jersey  and  became  the  ancestor 
of  Generals  Stephen  and  Phil  Kearney,  of  the  Amer- 
ican Civil  War.  I  am  delighted  to  find  that  the  proph- 
ecy is  true.  Your  Lordship  is  quite  right  in  saying 
that  we  Irish  are  a  ubiquitous  race." 

The  Feehan  family  contributed  many  noble  sons  and 
daughters  to  that  immortal  band  of  heroes  who  suf- 
fered, for  the  love  of  God  and  country,  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  the  terrible  penal  days.  Many  of  them  were 
driven  by  fierce  persecution  to  fight  the  battle  of  life 
under  the  more  hospitable  skies  of  other  lands,  and 
to  this  day  distinguished  names,  high  on  the  roll  of 


4  THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

honor  in  the  adopted  country  of  the  Archbishop,  can 
trace  their  origin  back  to  the  silent  tomb  in  the  old 
deserted  cemetery  in  the  county  of  Tipperary. 

But  greater  than  the  magnificent  endowments  of 
intellect  and  heart  or  the  robust  physique  and  wonder- 
ful courage,  tempered  with  the  ingenuousness  and  ten- 
derness of  a  child,  which  were  bestowed  upon  this  gifted 
son  of  the  Church,  were  the  signal  blessing  and  mark 
of  celestial  favor  so  manifested  in  the  surroundings  of 
his  advent  among  his  fellow  beings  for  whose  temporal 
welfare  and  spiritual  elevation  his  pilgrimage  was  des- 
tined. His  parents  were  Catholics  of  great  piety  and 
unswerving  devotion  to  the  old  faith  and  all  its  revered 
traditions.  Kind  and  gentle,  temperate  and  provident, 
they  received  the  bountiful  gifts  of  God  with  befitting 
humility  and  gratitude,  and  used  them  for  His  greater 
honor  and  glory.  No  allurements  of  a  material  world, 
no  promises  of  sordid  gain,  could  close  their  simple 
hearts  against  the  appealing  eyes  of  the  battered  way- 
farer, nor  stifle  the  emotions  of  sympathy  which  the 
cry  of  distress  awakened.  To  compromise  with  wrong, 
under  whatever  guise  the  temptation  might  appear,  was 
foreign  to  these  minds  so  fortified  by  hereditary  virtue 
against  the  assaults  of  that  ultra-selfish  spirit  which 
begot  the  injustices  and  persecutions  of  the  times. 

A  beautiful  illustration  of  Mr.  Patrick  Feehan's  keen 
perception  of  the  duty  which  true  charity  imposes  upon 
all  men  cannot  be  more  admirably  pictured  than  in  re- 
counting an  instance  related  by  an  eyewitness.  Upon 
a  certain  occasion,  Mr.  Feehan  was  accosted  by  an  un- 
fortunate man  who  appealed  to  him  for  aid.  After 
relieving  the  man's  necessities,  it  was  suggested  to  him 
that  he  had  somewhat  overstepped  the  bounds  of  pru- 
dence and  that  the  best  interests  of  his  children  de- 


HIS   CHILDHOOD  5 

manded  some  restraint  upon  his  naturally  generous 
impulses.  "It  is  related  in  the  Scriptures,"  said  Mr. 
Feehan,  "that  if  a  man  has  two  coats,  he  should  give 
one  to  him  who  has  none.  Divine  Providence  will  take 
care  of  my  children."  This  reply  to  what  Mr.  Feehan 
deemed  a  narrow  view  of  Christian  charity  appeals  with 
greater  force  to  the  understanding  of,  and  sheds  a 
stronger  light  upon  the  character  of  the  man  than  all 
the  words  his  most  earnest  admirers  might  utter. 

Surely  it  should  be  no  subject  of  surprise  or  doubt, 
if  we  but  dare  envisage  the  Beatific  Mind,  that  in  com- 
mitting him  to  the  care  and  training  of  so  noble  a  father, 
the  life  of  the  distinguished  son  was  foreordained  to 
fructify  and  blossom  into  deeds  which  bear  the  indelible 
impress  of  a  specially  selected  divine  mission. 

Notwithstanding  the  unjust  restrictions  and  political 
disabilities  to  which  Mr.  Feehan,  as  well  as  so  many 
of  his  contemporaries,  were  subjected  in  their  younger 
days  through  the  vigorous  and  malicious  prosecution  of 
the  penal  laws,  he  had  obtained  a  liberal  education, 
which,  together  with  the  endowment  of  a  splendid  intel- 
lect, insured  him  a  range  of  information  possessed  but 
by  few  men  of  his  day.  He  was  an  excellent  French 
scholar  and  spoke  that  language  very  fluently,  while  to 
his  studious  disposition  and  great  love  of  books  may  be 
traced  his  pre-eminence  as  a  connoisseur  and  patron  of 
the  literature  of  his  time.  It  was  from  his  father  that 
the  Archbishop  inherited  his  studious  habits  and  keen 
intellect,  his  strict  sense  of  justice  and  executive  talent, 
while  through  a  tender  and  noble  mother  were  imparted 
to  him  those  exquisite  and  gentle  traits  which  endeared 
him  to  all  who  were  so  blest  as  to  come  within  the  radi- 
ance of  his  influence.  In  his  youth  he  had  the  most 
conspicuous  example  of  modesty  and  refinement  in  his 


6  THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

gentle  mother,  pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  her  way, 
doing  good  to  those  of  her  fellow  creatures  whose  wants 
and  miseries  constantly  appealed  to  her  sympathies.  He 
saw  her  weep  with  the  sorrowful,  console  the  desolate, 
and  cherish  the  orphan,  whilst  the  minutest  of  her 
earthly  duties  was  most  carefully  performed.  Ah !  how 
in  his  declining  years  he  made  us  often  feel  by  his  own 
gentleness  and  compassion  that  at  the  family  altar  the 
mother  preaches  by  holy  example  even  more  than  by  her 
words  of  wisdom  and  piety;  that  the  very  songs  she 
sings  to  quiet  her  restless  babe  are  borrowed  from  the 
angels,  and  should  her  infant  by  the  favor  of  heaven 
be  called  to  join  the  celestial  choirs,  it  carries  on  its  lips 
the  familiar  strains  of  praise  and  love;  and  as  it  wings 
its  first  flight  upward  and  onward  through  the  shining 
stars,  it  hears  from  every  sphere  the  symphonies  of 
adoration  and  charity  which  are  but  the  highest  perfec- 
tion of  that  humble  hymn  it  had  learned  at  its  mother's 
knee. 

The  love  of  study  and  fondness  for  books  which  the 
Archbishop  had  inherited  from  his  father,  developed  in 
him  at  a  very  tender  age  a  marked  disposition  for  retire- 
ment and  seclusion.  When  other  boys  of  his  age  were 
engaged  in  the  active  amusements  of  childhood,  his 
leisure  hours  were  mostly  devoted  to  the  perusal  of 
instructive  books.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that 
his  youthful  years  were  pregnant  with  all  the  indica- 
tions of  the  future  vocation  for  the  sublime  apostleship 
to  which  he  was  called.  His  early  education  was  the 
especial  care  of  his  good  father  at  whose  fireside  his 
first  studies  were  begun.  Associated  with  him  in  these 
early  studies  under  the  supervision  of  his  honored  father 
was  a  sister,  sixteen  months  his  senior.  In  consequence 
of  this  happy  early  opportunity,  when  "Little  Pat,"  as 


HIS   CHILDHOOD  7 

he  was  familiarly  called,  first  attended  school,  he  was  far 
in  advance  of  the  other  children  of  his  age.  At  eight, 
he  began  the  study  of  the  classics.  When  about  ten, 
he  was  sent  to  his  grandfather,  John  Cooney  of  Cole- 
man,  that  he  might  have  the  advantage  of  going  to 
school  in  Fethard,  where  there  was  a  good  classical 
teacher.  The  sturdy  little  fellow  thought  nothing  of 
walking  three  long  miles  to  and  from  this  school. 

After  school  the  boys  were  in  the  habit  of  frequently 
visiting  a  ball-alley  kept  by  an  old  man,  whom  they 
repaid  for  their  amusement  by  often  sharing  their 
lunches  with  him,  and  by  giving  him  occasionally  a  few 
pennies.  This  alley  had  a  smooth  earthen  floor,  a  high 
gable  end,  and  a  broken  wall  on  one  side,  where  the 
boys  would  lay  their  jackets  and  books.  It  was  the 
old  man's  pride  and  joy  to  keep  a  record  of  the  names 
of  the  boys  who  made  the  highest  scores.  Besides,  he 
not  only  kept  score  for  them  but  also  obliged  them  to 
disperse  at  a  seasonable  hour,  so  that  parents  never  had 
to  complain  of  the  place.  The  boys  that  used  to  as- 
semble there  were  remarkably  good  and  many  of  them 
afterwards  distinguished  themselves  in  various  walks  of 
life.  In  after  years  when  "Little  Pat"  had  become 
Bishop  of  Nashville,  and  when  he  visited  his  native  land 
and  the  places  hallowed  by  fond  memories,  he  did  not 
forget  the  old  man  and  the  ball-alley.  There  still  was 
the  same  floor,  the  gable,  the  broken  wall,  the  jackets, 
and  the  books — all  was,  as  yesterday;  but  the  old  man, 
where  was  he?  A  middle-aged  man  was  in  his  place 
and  when  questioned,  answered:  "My  Lord,  my  father 
is  dead,  God  rest  his  soul,  and  if  he  was  alive,  sure  'tis 
he'd  be  proud  to  see  you.  He  has  an  account  of  your 
fine  playing  here  in  this  book.  You  have  one  of  the 
highest  scores  that  was  ever  written  in  it,  so  you  have." 


8  THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Looking  further  through  the  book  many  a  name  then 
distinguished  throughout  the  world  in  every  profession, 
shone  upon  its  faded  pages ;  archbishops,  bishops,  priests, 
members  of  the  bar,  the  press  and  the  army ;  and  around 
all  the  dearest  memories  of  childhood  were  entwined. 

Young  Feehan  spent  about  two  years  at  the  home  of 
his  grandfather,  but  meanwhile  was  allowed  to  make 
frequent  visits  to  the  home  of  his  parents,  which  was 
about  nine  miles  distant.  Most  happy  associations  were 
connected  with  those  years.  He  had  two  uncles  who 
were  studying  for  the  priesthood  and  three  others  who 
owned  and  superintended  large  farms  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. They  were  tall  and  athletic  men,  the  very  type 
to  inspire  a  boy  with  enthusiasm.  They  engaged  in  all 
manly  sports  and  took  part  in  all  social  and  political 
entertainment.  It  was  the  time  the  O'Connell  Monster 
Meetings  were  held  in  all  the  cities  of  the  country. 
Those  were  gala  days  for  our  young  hero.  Everywhere 
the  people  attended  the  meetings  in  large  numbers, 
cheering,  singing,  and  carrying  branches.  They  hoped 
for  great  things  from  their  much  loved  Liberator — the 
idol  of  high  and  low.  The  Cooney  young  men,  liv- 
ing a  short  distance  from  Clonmel,  were  prominent  in 
preparing  suitable  entertainments  for  the  distinguished 
guests,  who  were  very  many,  and  of  course,  young 
Patrick  was  not  left  behind.  At  those  entertainments 
he  invariably  met  his  father  and  many  of  his  relatives. 
They  were  most  joyous  gatherings. 

At  one  of  those  dinners,  Father  Heffernan,  the  parish 
priest  of  Clerihan,  who  had  officiated  at  the  marriage 
of  young  Feehan's  parents,  made  a  speech,  one  sentence 
of  which  is  especially  remembered  for  its  rich  humor. 
Addressing  O'Connell,  he  said: 

"Mr.  O'Connell,  I  congratulate  you  on  your  magnifi- 


HIS   CHILDHOOD  9 

cent  success,  on  the  devotion  of  the  whole  country  to 
their  idolized  Emancipator,  particularly  on  the  love  of 
the  people  of  the  'Golden  Vale,'  (as  this  part  of  Tip- 
perary  was  called),  where  the  land  is  so  fertile  that  if 
you  plant  a  twelvepenny  nail  at  night,  it  will  be  a  crow- 
bar in  the  morning."  There  was  prolonged  cheering, 
as  Father  Heffernan  was  much  loved  by  the  people  for 
his  devotion  to  them  and  their  interests.  They  honored 
him  for  his  learning,  and  revered  him  for  his  humility 
and  piety. 

In  his  old  age  Archbishop  Feehan  often  spoke  affec- 
tionately of  those  boyhood  days,  especially  of  the  happy, 
simple  and  contented  lives  of  the  working  people,  large 
numbers  of  whom  were  daily  employed  by  his 'uncles. 
Of  course,  farming  machines  were  unknown:  men 
reaped  with  hooks  and  scythes,  women  bound  the  grain 
after  their  day's  work.  When  the  horses  were  groomed 
and  fed,  the  cows  milked  and  driven  to  pasture,  sup- 
per over  and  all  things  in  readiness  for  the  night,  the 
men,  women  and  children  assembled  on  a  well  beaten 
piece  of  ground  near  their  dwelling.  Nor  was  the  music 
lacking,  for  there  was  Jack,  the  flute-player,  or  Bill, 
the  fiddler,  or  Paddy,  the  piper,  contributing  to  the 
merriment  of  the  occasion.  Then  the  work  of  the  day 
was  forgotten  in  dance,  song,  joke  and  repartee.  Father 
Heffernan  and  his  assistants  were  frequent  visitors  at 
these  innocent  frolics. 

After  two  years,  young  Patrick  Feehan  returned  to 
his  father's  home  as  a  fine  classical  teacher  had  opened 
a  school  in  Killenaule.  There  was  also  at  this  time  an 
excellent  mathematician  in  the  town  and  a  teacher  of 
English  branches.  At  home  once  more  with  his  sweet 
gentle  mother  and  the  sister  whom  he  loved  so  well  and 
who  now  accompanied  him  to  school  every  day,  time 
passed  lightly. 


10         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

There  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  Killenaule  a  never 
failing  spring  of  delicious  water.  It  flowed  through 
Springhill  and  at  one  place  formed  a  little  river,  deep 
and  narrow.  Over  the  water  in  an  almost  horizontal 
position  hung  a  great  bough  of  an  ivy  covered  tree ;  the 
ivy  itself  had  grown  to  be  a  tree,  so  thick  was  its  stem. 
On  this  particular  bough  it  formed  a  natural  seat  as 
well  as  a  bridge,  and  was  so  elastic  that  it  swayed  in  the 
wind,  yet  formed  ample  protection.  Here  it  was  that 
during  the  balmy  summer  evenings  the  brother  and  sister 
prepared  their  lessons  for  the  following  day,  confided 
their  childish  secrets  one  to  the  other,  and  grew  very 
much  attached.  They  shared  each  other's  joys  and  sor- 
rows and  seemed  but  one  heart  and  one  soul.  No  one 
was  permitted  to  disturb  them  in  their  studies,  yet  the 
old  nurse  found  at  times  excuses  to  bring  them  some- 
thing palatable.  She  could  get  good  water  nowhere 
else  but  at  that  particular  place,  and  the  children  looked 
for  Jude's  coming  with  pleasure.  Jude  had  accom- 
panied their  mother  on  the  occasion  of  her  marriage 
and  nursed  all  the  children,  so  she  felt  that  she  had  a 
mother's  claim. 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  YOUNG  MAN 

CONDITION  OF  THE  POOR  IN  THOSE  DAYS — YOUNG  FEEHAN  TAKES 
THEIR  PART — IS  FOND  OF  ATHLETICS — BARNEY  HEALY  TAKES 
THE  PLEDGE — PATRICK  STUDIES  GAELIC — IS  KNOWN  TO  BE 
DESTINED  FOR  THE  MINISTRY — IS  GUIDED  BY  HIS  FATHER  IN 
READING  MATTER — DEATH  OF  HIS  SISTER — HE  TELLS  HIS 
MOTHER  OF  HIS  VOCATION — GOES  TO  CASTLE  KNOCK — 
CHARLES  RUSSELL — THE  FAMILY  LEAVES  IRELAND— PATRICK'S 
LOVE  FOR  HIS  PATRON  SAINT — HIS  COMING  TO  AMERICA. 

IN  those  days  there  were  no  poorhouses  as  we  have 
them  today,  or  at  least  the  poor  did  not  go  there;  the 
farmers  supported  the  poor.  Every  morning  the  blind 
and  the  lame,  the  homeless  and  the  poor,  sallied  forth, 
taking  a  different  road  each  day  of  the  week  and  rest- 
ing on  Sunday.  The  children  knew  them  all  by  name; 
there  was  old  Biddy,  old  Mary,  old  Jack,  blind  Tom, 
and  so  on.  Everywhere  the  children  craved  as  a  boon 
to  be  allowed  to  give  the  alms  and  accompany  the  blind 
to  the  next  farm  house,  where  other  children  again  de- 
manded the  same  privilege.  Many  a  time  Pat  Feehan 
led  a  blind  man  or  woman  wherever  he  or  she  wanted 
to  go.  These  poor  people  prayed  for  the  living  and 
the  dead  of  the  families  that  had  helped  them.  It  is  a 
sweet  picture  of  holy  Ireland.  "The  poor  you  will  al- 
ways have  with  you."  Oh,  how  much  it  is  to  be  regret- 
ted that  those  days  are  past! 

One  warm  afternoon  old  Molly  Ryan  was  returning 
home  with  a  well-filled  bag.  She  laid  the  bag  on  a  stile 
beside  the  road  to  rest  when  along  came  some  school- 
boys who  thought  it  would  be  fun  to  throw  Molly's  bag 
over  the  wall.  When  they  had  done  the  mischief  they 
ran  away  shouting  and  laughing.  Molly  cried  and 

11 


12         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

wrung  her  hands  when  Pat  Feehan  happened  to  come 
upon  the  scene.  He  at  once  consoled  her  by  telling  her 
that  he  would  gather  up  the  contents  of  the  bag,  and 
did  so  amid  the  prayers  and  blessings  of  the  poor 
woman. 

However,  Pat  did  not  always  sympathize  with  the 
unfortunate.  During  one  of  his  visits  to  his  grand- 
father's place  a  number  of  young  men  were  assembled 
on  the  public  road.  A  hated  landlord  came  along,  and 
as  the  young  men  did  not  make  way  for  him  quickly 
enough,  he  made  some  insulting  remark  about  "the 

d d  papists."  Like  a  flash  Dennis  Cooney  sprang 

on  the  rear  of  his  gig  and  with  one  sweep  of  his  mus- 
cular arm  landed  the  creature  in  a  duck  pond  on  the 
road  side.  It  was  not  deep  enough  to  smother  him, 
but  the  water  was  dirty.  The  ducks  quacked  and  splut- 
tered while  the  men  shouted  and  roared  with  laughter. 
Some  dragged  him  out  and  helped  him  to  his  gig,  but 
no  one  knew  or  pretended  to  know  who  the  offender 
was.  One  suggested  that  he  keep  a  civil  tongue  in  his 
head  when  those  young  fellows  were  around,  "for  you 
never  know  when  they  will  give  you  another  lift  like 
that,  sir,  that  would  make  the  ducks  laugh."  Pat  Fee- 
han had  cheered  with  the  rest  for  he  hated  tyranny  and 
oppression  of  any  kind. 

Patrick  was  greatly  loved  by  his  schoolmates  who 
simply  could  enjoy  no  game  without  him:  he  was  fond 
of  athletic  sports,  and  was  an  adept  in  those  in  vogue 
at  the  time,  viz.,  hurling,  running,  ball-playing,  and 
wrestling.  In  after  years  when  he  was  pastor  of  St. 
Michael's  Church  in  St.  Louis,  a  poor  woman  one  day 
came  to  him  in  tears.  Her  husband,  she  said,  was  a 
good  man  but  he  drank  and  spent  his  earnings.  He 
had  good  pay  but  nevertheless  she  and  the  children 


THE  YOUNG   MAN  13 

were  starving.  Father  Feehan  gave  her  some  help  and 
at  the  same  time  promised  to  see  her  husband.  The 
next  day  when  the  quarry  men  were  resting  after  their 
dinner,  Father  Feehan  was  in  their  midst.  He  asked 
for  Barney  Healy.  The  men  all  knew  Barney's  fail- 
ing, and  guessed  at  once  the  reason  of  the  visit. 

Stepping  aside  with  the  defendant,  Father  Feehan 
began:  "Barney,  I  understand  that  your  family  is 
in  distress  because  of  your  intemperate  habits." 

"Well,  Father,"  answered  Barney,  "I  do  drink,  I 
am  ashamed  to  say,  and  I  took  the  pledge  twice:  first 
time  I  promised  never  to  drink  a  glass  of  whiskey  again ; 
I  kept  that  pledge,  for  I  did  not  drink  a  glass  full  at 
any  time,  but  I  used  to  drink  half  a  glass  oftener  and 
I  was  just  as  bad  as  before:  then  I  took  the  pledge  from 
Archbishop  Kenrick  that  I  would  never  drink  inside 
nor  outside  a  house,  and  what  do  you  think  I  did?  You 
could  not  guess.  Well,  I  drank  on  the  threshold.  Now, 
Father,  what  can  be  the  use  in  a  chap  like  me  taking 
the  pledge?  But  I'll  tell  you,  Father,  if  any  man  could 
bate  me  throwin'  a  stone,  I'd  take  the  pledge  from  him 
and  keep  it  without  any  schemin',  so  I  would." 

"Suppose  you  throw  a  stone  with  me,  Barney,"  said 
Father  Feehan. 

"Done,  Your  Reverence." 

Barney  was  quite  confident  in  his  own  prowess  for 
he  was  a  strong,  athletic  fellow,  used  to  working  with  a 
drill.  A  stone  was  selected  to  the  satisfaction  of  both. 
The  men  stood  around,  greatly  interested,  hoping  that 
the  priest  would  win;  yet,  knowing  Barney's  skill,  they 
had  their  fears.  The  priest,  through  respect,  was  given 
the  first  throw,  which  carried  far.  Barney  looked  trou- 
bled as  he  measured  the  distance  with  his  eyes.  Taking 
the  stone  in  the  palm  of  his  great,  coarse  hand  he  swung 


14         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

his  arm  and  swayed  his  body  back  and  forth  until  he 
brought  his  full  strength  into  play,  then  with  a  supreme 
effort  he  threw  the  stone.  The  men  hailed  the  result 
with  a  shout  of  joy.  "Lost,  Barney,"  they  shouted, 
"lost  by  two  feet,  old  boy!  Now  you're  bound  for  life, 
and  no  gettin'  out  of  it  aither." 

Poor  Barney  sat  on  a  rock  and  sobbed  like  a  child, 
perhaps  because  his  pride  was  broken.  "Ah!  don't  be 
a  child,  Barney,"  the  men  said.  "You  are  in  for  it 
now;  bear  it  like  a  man."  Without  saying  a  word  Bar- 
ney walked  to  the  priest's  feet  and  kneeling  down  said 
before  them  all:  "I  promise  without  any  'schemin' , 
never  to  drink  intoxicating  drink  agin.  You  are  all 
witnesses  to  my  promises  and  ye'll  see  that  Barney 
Healy  can  keep  his  word  with  God's  help."  He  did 
keep  his  word,  and  kept  his  family  too,  in  comfort  and 
happiness. 

During  the  summer  vacation  Patrick  studied  Gaelic 
under  Mr.  Hickey,  an  old  gentleman  who  taught  in  the 
college  at  Water  ford.  He  was  quite  a  favorite  with 
the  old  man,  who  always  called  him,  "King  of  Boys." 
This  old  Gaelic  professor  translated  and  wrote  with 
a  crow's  quill  pen  a  history  of  Ireland,  and  "The  Glories 
of  Mary."  He  was  a  most  humble  and  unassuming 
man. 

About  this  time  it  began  to  be  remarked  among  the 
people  that  Patrick  Feehan  was  destined  by  God  for 
the  sacred  ministry.  He  was  then  about  fourteen  years 
old  and  much  taller  than  most  of  the  boys  of  his  age. 
School-fellows  were  not  slow  to  notice  the  veil  of  sepa- 
ration from  the  world  which  the  Lord  casts  around 
those  whom  He  selects  for  His  own  Divine  Service. 

"He  is  going  to  be  a  priest,"  said  one. 

"How  do  you  know  what  he  is  going  to  be?" 


THE  YOUNG   MAN  15 

"Oh,  it  is  easy  to  see;  I  heard  my  father  say  that 
the  mark  is  on  his  brow." 

Another  remarked:  "My  mother  says  that  wher- 
ever he  goes  the  blessing  of  God  will  go  with  him." 

The  fame  of  young  Patrick's  tutor,  Mr.  Walsh,  as 
a  foremost  classical  teacher,  had  spread  far  and  wide. 
Young  men  came  from  many  parts  of  the  country  to 
his  school.  Since  many  of  these  were  known  as  "poor" 
scholars,  they  were  boarded  free  by  the  farmers;  fre- 
quently two  of  these  were  at  Mr.  Feehan's,  always  at 
least  one.  As  a  rule  they  were  exemplary  young  men, 
for  otherwise  they  would  not  be  permitted  to  remain 
in  the  house.  Mr.  Feehan  was  ever  watchful  of  the 
companions  his  children  associated  with  and  the  liter- 
ature they  read.  He  made  an  effort  to  procure  them 
the  choicest  publications.  Whenever  he  went  to  the 
cities  where  publishers  lived,  he  would  invariably  return 
with  new  books;  being  well  read  himself,  he  expected 
his  children  to  follow  his  example.  He  often  read  aloud. 
His  accent  was  good  and  his  voice  sweet  and  pleasing. 

Furthermore,  Mr.  Feehan  kept  the  beautiful  custom 
of  reciting  the  Rosary  of  Our  Blessed  Mother  every 
night  for  the  household.  He  very  much  recommended 
the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  frequently  explained 
a  portion  of  them  himself.  No  improper  conversation 
was  ever  permitted  in  his  house.  If  anything  of  this 
nature  ever  occurred  the  offender  was  immediately  dis- 
missed. For  the  rest,  there  were  frequent  gatherings 
and  amusements  in  Mr.  Feehan's  home,  but  usually 
these  entertainments  were  of  an  intellectual  nature. 

From  the  simple  narration  of  the  foregoing  incidents 
in  the  home-life  of  the  Archbishop,  which  were  gathered 
principally  from  those  who  were  intimately  associated 
with  him  in  his  childhood  and  youthful  days,  may  be 


16         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

inferred  the  wonderful  manifestation  of  Divine  Grace 
which  attends  and  accompanies  through  life  the  chil- 
dren of  parents  whose  genuine  devotion  to  their  off- 
spring displays  itself  in  holy  example  and  good  work, 
rather  than  in  the  vanity  of  worldly  and  temporal 
advantages. 

When  Patrick  was  in  his  fifteenth  year,  a  great  grief 
came  into  his  life.  His  beloved  sister  who  had  been  the 
loving  companion  of  his  childhood  days,  who  had  shared 
with  him  all  his  little  joys  and  sorrows,  whose  heart  had 
throbbed  with  pride  in  the  contemplation  of  his  promis- 
ing future,  and  who  had  ever  been  ready  to  tender  her 
sweet  consolation  in  all  the  little  disappointments  and 
trials  of  his  boyhood,  was  taken  from  him  and  her  de- 
voted family  by  an  untimely  death.  The  fact  that  they 
lived  in  the  country  and  that  two  children,  junior  to 
Patrick,  had  died  in  their  infancy,  leaving  a  gap  which 
separated  the  older  from  the  younger  members  of  the 
family,  had  cemented  the  attachment  of  the  two  older. 
The  loss  of  this  sister,  therefore,  left  on  the  mind  and 
the  heart  of  Patrick  a  lasting  impression.  On  the  day 
of  her  death  he  wandered  away  from  home,  and  after 
a  long  search  was  found  in  a  lonely  place  almost  un- 
conscious. Yet  he  tried  hard  to  conceal  his  grief,  and 
in  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  way,  all  his  own,  he  would 
attend  to  the  little  duties  he  knew  his  sister  was  in  the 
habit  of  discharging  for  her  mother,  so  that  his  mother 
at  least  would  not  so  frequently  be  reminded  of  her  loss. 
Such  was  the  deep  and  tender  affection  of  this  noble 
boy  for  his  grief-stricken  mother,  and  his  whole  life  was 
one  long  vista  of  filial  piety. 

On  one  occasion,  it  happened  during  the  vacation  of 
1846,  a  little  girl  of  eight  or  nine  years,  but  now  bowed 
down  beneath  the  weight  of  many  winters'  snows  and 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  17 

the  sorrows  of  life,  was  sitting  unobserved  in  a  quiet 
corner  of  her  home  amusing  herself  with  a  story  book, 
when  the  following  scene  was  enacted: 

Mrs.  Feehan  was  busy  with  her  needle  one  afternoon 
when  her  son  quietly  entered  the  room.  "Where  have 
you  been,  my  child?"  she  asked. 

"I  walked  down  to  where  father  is  superintending  the 
men,  mother.  Father  likes  to  talk  of  college  days  and 
of  my  studies.  He  also  seems  to  know  so  much  about 
our  relatives  in  foreign  countries.  Not  long  since,  a 
gentleman  from  Brazil  called  at  the  college,  who  in  some 
way  had  learned  my  name  and  asked  to  see  me.  He 
tried  to  induce  me  to  return  with  him  to  Buenos  Aires ; 
first  to  travel  over  Europe  for  improvement  and  pleas- 
ure, then  to  Brazil.  He  said  that  he  could  easily  pro- 
cure for  me  an  honorable  and  lucrative  position  under 
the  government."  Seeing  the  anxious  expression  on 
his  mother's  face  however,  Pat  added  quickly:  "But 
I  told  him,  mother,  that  the  die  was  cast  for  me  and 
that  my  mind  was  made  up.  I  intend  to  become  a 
priest." 

Hearing  this  his  good  mother  laid  down  her  work, 
and  rising  from  her  seat  threw  her  arms  around  her 
darling's  neck,  murmuring  "Cushla  Machree"  (child  of 
my  heart).  Patrick  then  folded  his  arms  around  his 
dear  mother  and  led  her  back  to  her  seat. 

"Mother,"  he  said,  "you  are  not  like  the  mother  of 
the  sons  of  Zebedee,  who  desired  worldly  honors  for  her 
children.  When  my  Lord  will  be  pleased  to  say  to  me, 
'Can  you  drink  the  chalice  that  I  will  give  you?'  I  hope 
that  He  will  give  me  the  grace  to  answer,  'I  can.' ' 
His  face  seemed  transfigured  then.  The  little  girl 
looked  from  her  corner  with  a  feeling  of  awe  on  him, 
her  beloved  brother;  this  scene  she  has  never  forgotten. 


18         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

To  the  preliminary  studies  of  young  Feehan  suc- 
ceeded a  thorough  training  in  the  classics  and  sciences, 
and  his  aptness  and  progress  were  so  remarkable  that, 
when  only  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  was  entered  as  an 
ecclesiastical  student  at  Castle  Knock  College,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1845. 

The  eighteen  months  which  he  spent  in  this  institution 
were  signalized  by  the  impress  which  his  exalted  char- 
acter and  strong  personality  left  upon  the  minds  of 
those  who  were  intimately  thrown  in  with  him,  both 
fellow  students  and  professors;  and  as  for  scholarship, 
he  bore  away  laurels  of  the  highest  honor.  He  was 
permitted  on  account  of  superior  scholarship  to  take 
the  Christmas  examination  at  Maynooth  in  1846,  and 
passed  most  creditably. 

One  of  the  students  of  Castle  Knock,  a  boy  whom 
Patrick  admired  very  much,  was  Charles  Russell,  after- 
ward Lord  Russell  of  Killoon.  On  the  day  of  final 
separation,  young  Russell,  a  bright  and  cheerful  boy, 
came  to  Patrick's  room.  "Well,  Feehan,"  he  said,  "to- 
day our  roads  divide.  You  are  booked  for  Maynooth: 
I,  for  Trinity." 

Looking  at  him  affectionately  Feehan  answered: 
"Charley,  Trinity  has  many  temptations  for  an  ambi- 
tious man." 

"I  know  it,"  said  Charles,  "but  with  God's  grace  I 
hope  to  pass  unscathed  and  come  out  victorious.  You 
will  never  hear  that  Charles  Russell  has  proved  unfaith- 
ful to  his  country  or  his  grand  old  faith." 

"You  are  one  that  can  be  trusted,  Charles,  and  I  feel 
sure  that  the  day  will  come  when  you  will  fill  one  of 
the  highest  positions  at  the  bar." 

"I  shall  try  to  do  credit  to  my  family  and  name," 
resumed  Charles,  "but  you,  my  dear  friend,  I  am  con- 


of 


»U: 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  19 

fident  will  stand  at  the  head  of  the  hierarchy.  You  will 
one  day  be  a  leader  and  exemplar  among  men." 

"Well,  well,  we  will  let  the  future  tell  what  we  are 
made  of,"  was  the  answer  of  young  Feehan. 

After  some  time  Russell  said:  "I  must  be  off  now, 
but  first  I  wish  to  settle  my  year's  account.  You  must 
have  often  noticed  my  hasty,  impetuous  manner  on  the 
playground.  I  must  have  pained  you  many  times  and 
I  now  beg  you  to  forgive  me  and  always  remember  me 
as  your  friend."  The  two  young  men,  great  in  their 
humility  as  in  everything  else,  knelt  down  for  a  moment 
in  a  silent  prayer  for  forgiveness  of  all  offenses;  then 
after  a  short  embrace  P.  A.  Feehan  was  alone. 

Little  did  Patrick  think  that  their  words  of  that  day 
were  actually  a  prophecy.  The  two  men  never  met 
again;  when  Lord  Russell  was  in  New  York,  he  in- 
tended to  visit  Chicago,  but  Providence  had  ordained 
otherwise.  After  Lord  Russell's  death,  Archbishop 
Feehan  often  related  this  incident  with  great  emotion, 
thinking  perhaps  of  an  early  meeting  in  their  eternal 
home. 

Young  Feehan  began  his  five  years'  course  of  study 
in  the  great  College  of  Maynooth,  when  in  his  eighteenth 
year  he  entered  this  renowned  ecclesiastical  seminary  in 
January,  1847.  Here  he  made  his  courses  of  philosophy 
and  theology  under  the  guidance  of  masters  of  the  pro- 
foundest  erudition  and  the  highest  order  of  ability.  In 
the  most  trying  and  difficult  period  of  his  ecclesiastical 
training  he  displayed  the  same  traits  of  pre-eminent 
talent,  intellectual  acumen,  indomitable  application,  and 
energy,  which  had  so  characterized  his  earlier  scholastic 
achievements,  and  to  which  may  be  ascribed  the  cause 
of  the  extraordinary  proficiency  which  secured  him  well 
merited  preferment  and  the  appointment  to  the  Dun- 
boyne  establishment. 


20         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

When  in  1850,  the  Archbishop's  family  left  Ireland  for 
the  United  States  and  young  Feehan  obtained  permis- 
sion to  spend  a  day  with  his  people  in  Dublin,  he  re- 
mained with  them  that  night  without  permission  from 
the  president,  Doctor  Renehan,  as  the  vessel  was  not 
to  sail  until  the  next  evening.  Telephone  and  telegraph 
communication  was  not  as  common  then  as  it  is  to- 
day. On  his  return  to  the  college  he  was  at  once  sent 
to  the  president,  who  said  to  him:  "You  are  under  cen- 
sure, Mr.  Feehan.  You  absented  yourself  last  night 
without  permission,  and  that  is  a  serious  matter." 

"May  I  give  an  explanation,  Doctor?" 

"Certainly,"  was  the  reply. 

"The  vessel  in  which  my  family  was  to  embark  was 
not  ready  yesterday  and  so  my  parents  requested  me 
to  remain  with  them  last  night.  I  could  not  refuse.  I 
think,  sir,  if  you  were  placed  in  the  same  circumstances 
you  yourself  would  have  done  the  same." 

Looking  kindly  at  the  youth  the  president  replied: 
"I  would,  sir,  and  I  honor  you  for  having  done  it.  The 
censure  is  removed." 

All  during  his  life  the  Archbishop  displayed  deep 
devotion  to  his  patron  saint.  Once  he  was  asked  what 
saint  he  had  chosen  for  his  patron.  "My  patron,"  he 
said,  "is  the  saint  of  saints.  I  have  always  tried  to 
imitate  him;  how  far  I  succeeded,  he  alone  knows."  The 
questioner  thought  he  had  succeeded  quite  well,  but  said 
nothing. 

About  this  time  the  Archdiocese  of  St.  Louis  was 
greatly  in  need  of  aspirants  to  the  priesthood.  The 
pious  and  astute  Archbishop  Kenrick  was  not  slow  to 
recognize  the  advantage  to  be  gained  by  surrounding 
himself  with  the  most  zealous  of  the  ecclesiastical  stu- 
dents who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  the  celebrated 


THE  YOUNG   MAN  21 

seminaries  of  Ireland,  and  His  Grace  often  made  ap- 
plication for  the  transfer  to  his  diocese  of  students  who 
were  willing  to  forsake  home,  friends,  and  native  land 
to  take  up  the  Cross  and  carry  it  along  the  rugged  paths 
of  the  great  "American  Missions"  and  embrace  all  the 
arduous  duties  which  this  self-sacrifice  entailed.  Who 
of  us  in  our  own  happy  homes,  surrounded  by  all  the 
loving  friends  and  familiar  and  cherished  scenes  of 
childhood,  can  enter  into  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  exile 
and  analyze  the  emotions  surging  in  his  breast,  be  he 
the  proud  noble,  the  humble  peasant  or  devoted  priest, 
when  called  upon  to  sacrifice  his  all! 

The  well  beloved  and  distinguished  young  ecclesiastic, 
P.  A.  Feehan,  had  been  singled  out  by  his  superiors 
in  the  college  for  a  professorship,  and  it  was  with  dis- 
may and  bitter  disappointment  that  they  contemplated 
the  loss  threatening  their  renowned  institution  when 
Archbishop  Kenrick  made  a  special  request  of  the  fac- 
ulty for  his  transfer  to  the  St.  Louis  Archdiocese. 
Every  objection  consistent  with  good  taste  and  religious 
fealty  was  urged  by  the  superiors  against  his  transfer, 
but  impelled  by  an  inscrutable  impulse  which  the  dear- 
est ties  of  life  could  not  overrule,  Patrick  accepted  the 
call  with  humble  resignation  and  meek  submission,  and 
no  argument  directed  to  the  selfish  side  of  human  nature 
could  shake  his  determination  to  follow  the  secret 
promptings  of  his  heart  and  soul.  With  a  full  knowl- 
edge of  all  the  privations  which  at  that  time  confronted 
the  missionaries  of  the  Far  West,  he  set  sail  for  Amer- 
ica and  arrived  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  the  year  1852. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  MISSIONARY 

SAYS  FAREWELL  TO  HIS  NATIVE  COUNTRY — AT  THE  SEMINARY 
OF  CARONDELET — IS  ORDAINED  IN  ST.  LOUIS — TEACHES  IN  THE 
SEMINARY — THE  TALENTED  YOUNG  PREACHER — CHOLERA 
EPIDEMIC  IN  ST.  LOUIS — MRS.  GOTSEL,  THE  HOUSEKEEPER — 
FEEHAN  IS  MADE  PRESIDENT  OF  CARONDELET — BECOMES  PAS- 
TOR— NEVER  ASKS  FOR  MONEY — THE  PRIEST  OF  THE  POOR — 
HIS  VISITS  TO  THE  JAIL — VISITS  TO  HIS  MOTHER — THE 
HOSPITAL  FOR  WOUNDED  SOLDIERS — MAKES  NUMEROUS  CON- 
VERTS. 

BEFORE  leaving  Ireland  for  the  United  States,  Mr. 
Feehan  visited  for  the  last  time  his  native  place.  He 
made  his  home  with  Father  Laffin,  who  was  the  parish 
priest  at  the  time,  and  with  whom  he  was  a  great  favorite. 
They  drove  around  together  visiting  the  old  neighbors: 
as  they  passed  along  people  ran  out  in  the  street  to 
ask  Feehan's  blessing  and  wish  him  Godspeed;  the 
poor  people  wept  aloud,  for  he  had  often  been  very  kind 
to  them.  One  of  them  called  after  him:  "There  goes  a 
head  that  will  one  day  wear  a  mitre;"  another,  "Blessed 
are  the  people  you  are  going  to"  .  .  .  etc. 

Patrick  also  called  on  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Cullen,  who 
was  his  Metropolitan,  as  he  belonged  to  the  Dublin 
Archdiocese.  The  Archbishop  made  particular  inquiries 
about  his  future  destination.  When  parting  he  threw 
his  arms  around  his  neck  and  kissed  him  on  both  cheeks. 
His  Grace  expressed  regret  that  he  was  leaving  the 
archdiocese  and  assured  him  that  if  he  did  not  like  the 
New  World,  he  would  be  glad  to  have  him  return  to 
him. 

Arriving  in  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Feehan  was  assigned  to 
the  ecclesiastical  seminary  of  Carondelet  to  prepare  for 
his  ordination,  being  then  in  his  twenty-third  year  of 

22 


THE   MISSIONARY  23 

age.  On  November  1,  1852,  he  was  ordained  priest 
by  Archbishop  Kenrick.1  Among  those  present  at  his 
ordination  was  the  Rev.  James  Duggan,  afterward 
Bishop  of  Chicago.  From  the  time  of  his  ordination 
until  the  following  July,  Father  Feehan  taught  in  the 
diocesan  seminary.  In  July,  1853,  he  was  appointed 
to  St.  John's  Church,  St.  Louis,  and  here  his  active  mis- 
sionary work  began. 

One  of  the  peculiar  traits  of  the  great  Archbishop, 
one  which  emphasized  his  whole  life  and  stood  out  in 
bold  contrast  against  the  human  side  of  most  men  pos- 
sessing superior  qualities  of  mind,  was  his  utter  un- 
consciousness of  the  brilliant  gifts  of  intellect  with 
which  he  had  been  endowed.  Although  not  an  orator, 
he  was  a  most  pleasing  and  convincing  speaker;  his 
efforts  seemed  always  to  have  been  directed  to  the  one 
sole  end  and  goal,  to  plant  the  seed  which  he  had  been 
commissioned  to  scatter  in  the  hearts  of  men,  that  it 
might  bear  fruit  and  redound  to  the  honor  and  glory 
of  his  Master  and  the  redemption  of  the  flock  committed 
to  his  care.  His  reputation  for  eloquence  and  learning 
grew  with  each  new  day  until  soon  the  young  priest 
attracted  wide  attention  and  the  people  flocked  to  hear 
the  instructive  and  naturally  eloquent  words  which  fell 
from  his  lips.  As  time  wore  on,  his  fame  as  a  preacher 
began  to  enlarge  like  the  ever  widening  circles  created 
by  the  falling  of  a  pebble  upon  the  placid  bosom  of  a 
crystal  lake;  and  such  notices  as  the  following  began 
to  appear  day  after  day  in  the  local  press: 

"The  Dedication  of  St.  Bridget's  Church  took  place 
Sunday,  August  28th.  The  dedication  sermon  was 
delivered  by  the  Rev.  Patrick  A.  Feehan,  of  St.  John's 
Church,  from  an  appropriate  text  selected  from  the 


1  See  Appendix  No.  1. 


24         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

prayer  of  Solomon,  Paralip.,  Ch.  VI.  It  was  an  able 
and  eloquent  discourse  and  fully  sustained  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  eloquent  and  talented  young  preacher."1 

In  1853,  the  city  of  St.  Louis  found  itself  in  the  throes 
of  death.  A  frightful  epidemic  of  cholera  was  raging 
at  the  time,  and  terror  and  dark  despair  reigned  in  every 
quarter  of  the  Old  City.  In  the  homes  of  the  rich,  in 
the  wretched  hovels  of  the  pauper,  and  in  the  infected 
wards  of  the  public  hospital,  the  devoted  Father  Fee- 
han  might  have  been  seen  during  the  long  watches  of 
the  night  administering  to  the  stricken  victims  of  this 
loathsome  plague.  Unmindful  of  his  own  danger,  turn- 
ing a  deaf  ear  to  the  whisperings  of  that  most  powerful 
of  all  human  instincts,  self-preservation,  he  carried  the 
consolation  of  religion  to  the  hopeless  victim  tossing  in 
misery  and  despair,  and  poured  into  his  ears  the  bliss- 
ful hope  of  pardon  and  immortality. 

It  was  a  dreadful  ordeal;  there  was  no  rest  for  the 
priests  day  or  night;  Father  Feehan  frequently  helped 
to  coffin  the  dead  and  place  them  in  the  wagon  that 
was  to  take  them  to  the  cemetery.  Grand  and  heroic 
were  the  acts  performed  by  priests  and  people. 

One  Sunday  morning,  Father  Feehan  after  having 
been  out  on  sick-calls  all  night,  had  offered  Mass  at  six 
o'clock  and  immediately  afterwards  went  out  once  more 
to  attend  the  sick.  Whenever  the  priest  was  called, 
there  was  no  time  to  lose,  as  a  few  hours  decided  the 
fate  of  the  sufferer.  Father  P.  O'Brien,  the  pastor  of 
St.  John's,  had  also  been  out  all  night  attending  sick- 
calls  and  did  not  feel  able  to  offer  up  the  next  Mass 
which  was  to  be  said  at  eight  o'clock.  When  the  people 
were  assembled  for  the  service,  Father  O'Brien  told  his 
housekeeper,  Mrs.  Gotsel,  to  tell  them  there  would  be 


"Shepherd  of  the  Valley,"  August  30,  1853. 


THE   MISSIONARY  25 

no  Mass  in  their  own  church,  so  that  they  would  have 
time  to  go  to  another  near  by.  The  old  woman  went 
to  the  sanctuary  railing  and  these  are  the  words  she  said : 

"My  good  people,  Father  O'Brien  is  very  sick;  may 
be  he'll  never  be  able  to  say  Mass  again."  This  an- 
nouncement filled  the  people  with  great  consternation 
as  they  all  dearly  loved  their  old  pastor.  "Now,"  con- 
tinued Mrs.  Gotsel,  "I  want  youse  all  to  kneel  down 
and  say  the  Rosary  for  him,  and  also  for  the  dear  young 
priest  who  has  been  up  all  night  for  the  past  two  weeks ; 
an'  let  youse  pray  for  the  dead  an'  the  dyin',  an'  the 
people  that  ain't  sick  an'  dead,  praise  be  to  God.  May 
His  Holy  Will  be  done,  Amen."  Then  kneeling  on  the 
altar  step,  while  wholly  unconscious  of  her  prominent 
position,  good  Mrs.  Gotsel  recited  the  Rosary. 

On  one  occasion,  Father  Feehan  was  told  a  young 
girl  was  quite  sick  with  smallpox.  She  had  been  aban- 
doned by  her  relatives  as  soon  as  they  had  learned  the 
nature  of  her  disease.  Father  Feehan  knew  a  self-sacri- 
ficing, big  hearted  Irish  woman  who  bore  unmistakable 
marks  of  having  had  the  disease  herself;  so  he  asked 
her  if  she  would  nurse  the  poor  girl.  "Indeed,  an'  I 
will,  your  Reverence,  an'  't  is  proud  I  am  to  be  asked. 
Praise  be  to  God."  When  the  girl  got  well,  as  she  did 
very  soon  with  Mrs.  Keefe's  kindly  care,  Father  Fee- 
han thought  that  some  recompense  should  be  made. 
"Ah,  Father!  sure  you  wouldn't  be  takin'  away  my  claim 
on  the  promised  reward  of  the  good  God.  An'  whin 
I  remind  Him  of  my  claim  I  won't  forget  to  tell  Him 
about  you,  too." 

The  labors  of  Father  Feehan  at  St.  John's  were  of 
short  duration,  but  during  his  brief  ministration  amongst 
the  people  of  that  parish  he  had  so  entwined  himself 
around  their  hearts  by  his  self-abnegation  and  pious 


26         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

example,  that  it  was  with  poignant  grief  they  saw  him 
assigned  to  another  field  of  usefulness. 

In  the  summer  of  1854,  Father  Feehan  succeeded  the 
Rev.  Anthony  O 'Regan,  as  President  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  in  Carondelet,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
for  three  years,  teaching  Moral  Theology  and  Sacred 
Scripture,  and  also  preaching  once  a  month  in  the 
Cathedral  of  St.  Louis.  Archbishop  Hennesy,  who  was 
professor  in  the  Seminary  at  the  same  time,  said  of 
Father  Feehan:  "He  was  then,  as  ever  afterwards, 
kind,  gentle,  amiable  and  a  great  favorite  with  the 
students  and  professors;  he  was  loved  by  all  who  knew 
him  well  enough  to  appreciate  his  rare  qualities." 

In  addition  to  his  duties  as  President  and  Professor 
of  the  Seminary,  he  attended  to  the  Convent  of  the 
Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  contiguous  to  the  Seminary,  and 
it  is  with  affectionate  remembrance  that  the  Sisters  of 
that  institution  even  at  the  present  day  speak  of  Father 
Feehan  and  his  beautiful  traits  of  mind  and  heart. 

He  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Michael's  Church, 
St.  Louis,  in  July,  1858,  and  at  once  entered  vigorously 
upon  the  duties  of  the  parish  priest.  It  was  but  a  very 
short  time  before  his  sterling  qualities  had  completely 
captivated  his  new  parishioners  and  had  won  their  con- 
fidence and  affection.  The  people  often  wondered  dur- 
ing the  year  that  he  was  at  St.  Michael's,  why  Father 
Feehan  never  asked  them  for  money.  At  length,  two 
of  the  most  prominent  ladies,  and  also  the  most  charit- 
able and  enterprising,  called  on  him  and  asked  him  good 
naturedly  how  he  was  managing  to  live  since  he  never 
asked  the  people  for  anything.  "Well,"  he  answered, 
"I  suppose  it  is  that  I  am  naturally  disinclined  to  ask 
and  am  not  yet  accustomed  to  parish  work." 

"Then,  Father,"  they  continued,  "you  must  accept  us 


FEEHAN  AT  CAEONDOLET 
1854 


ORht 
*!H5V£R$itt  OF  111 


THE   MISSIONARY  27 

for  your  assistants  and  give  us  permission  to  organize 
a  fair  for  the  benefit  of  the  church.  We  promise  you 
that  we  will  make  enough  to  pay  for  all  expenses  of 
the  past  year."  Father  Feehan  laughingly  and  grate- 
fully accepted  their  services.  They  organized  the  fair 
and  it  proved  to  be  quite  a  success.  Father  Feehan 
always  entertained  a  grateful  remembrance  of  these 
ladies  who  so  kindly  came  to  his  assistance  when  he  was 
in  need  of  aid. 

But  he  was  not  destined  to  remain  long  in  the  parish 
of  St.  Michael.  In  the  following  July,  Father  Feehan 
was  transferred  to  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Con- 
ception, at  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Chestnut  streets, 
where  he  assumed  pastoral  charge  at  once.  Here  the 
great  works  of  charity  which  so  signalized  his  entire 
life  took  definite  form.  Father  Feehan  began  by  estab- 
lishing at  once  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society  in  the 
parish  and  secured  rooms  where  stores  were  kept  for 
the  poor.  Some  still  remember  with  grateful  affection 
his  solicitude  and  care  for  their  temporal  weal  and  com- 
fort. "How  often,"  said  one  of  his  priests,  "have  I 
heard  the  expression,  'When  I  first  spoke  to  him  a  heavy 
load  was  taken  off  my  mind,'  or,  'his  presence  brings 
light  and  joy  to  my  poor  home.' ' 

The  most  notable  attribute  of  the  great  Archbishop's 
magnificent  Christian  character,  and  which  during  his 
entire  life  appears  more  conspicuously  than  any  other 
virtue  he  possessed,  an  attribute  which  in  the  midst  of 
worldly  greed  and  selfishness  blazed  out  like  a  flash  of 
celestial  fire  to  emphasize  the  surrounding  gloom  of 
night,  was  his  tender  care  for  the  poor,  the  sick,  the 
sorrowing,  and  all  those  whose  ills  of  body  and  mind 
appealed  to  his  sense  of  moral  duty  and  tender  sym- 
pathy. To  the  poor  especially  he  was  an  untiring  and 


28 

ever  faithful  friend  ministering  to  their  wants  to  the 
utmost  limit  of  his  power;  and  to  the  afflicted  and  the 
sorrowful  he  ever  poured  out  that  balm  of  consolation, 
which  falls  upon  the  bruised  heart  like  the  refreshing 
dews  of  dawn  that  settle  upon  the  drooping  flower  bat- 
tered down  by  the  merciless  rays  of  a  torrid  sun;  to  the 
suffering  and  the  sick  he  carried  all  the  sweet  solicitude 
of  a  loving  parent,  and  the  last  moments  of  the  dying 
were  made  bright  and  blessed  by  his  promise  to  gather 
their  orphaned  children  within  the  sheltering  folds  of 
his  own  great  heart. 

Father  Feehan  could  not  be  satisfied  with  simply  en- 
trusting the  poor  to  the  care  of  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul 
Society.  He  visited  their  homes  himself;  he  knew  each 
family  and  each  poor  child  by  name.  The  sick  also  he 
visited  every  day,  rich  and  poor  receiving  the  same 
attention.  He  was  called  affectionately  the  "Priest  of 
the  Poor." 

Once  it  was  remarked  to  Archbishop  Kenrick:  "Your 
Grace,  you  have  in  the  city  two  priests;  one  is  called 
'the  priest  of  the  poor,'  and  the  other  'the  priest  of  the 
rich.' '  "Well,"  said  the  Archbishop  in  his  own  quiet 
way,  "the  poor  rich  need  a  priest  all  to  themselves  more 
than  the  poor:  the  contented  poor,  you  know,  are  pro- 
nounced blessed." 

Father  Feehan  also  made  it  a  point  to  visit  the  jail 
every  day.  The  forsaken  and  abandoned  outcasts  knew 
the  kindly  gleam  of  his  gentle  eyes,  and  their  hearts 
beat  high  with  hope  when  his  familiar  footfall  echoed 
through  the  dismal  corridors  of  their  gloomy  abode;  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  bringing  them  reading  matter  and 
giving  them  a  few  cents  for  tobacco. 

One  morning  a  poor  man  asked  to  see  him.  When 
the  priest  was  seated,  the  man  handed  him  a  key. 


THE   MISSIONARY  29 

"This,"  he  said,  "is  the  key  of  the  back  door  to  your 
house.  I  came  there  a  few  days  ago  and  got  my  break- 
fast from  the  girl  and  while  waiting  I  hid  the  key  of 
the  door  intending  to  come  back  at  night  to  steal.  I 
came  and  went  to  your  room  and  finding  you  asleep, 
I  took  your  watch  and  some  money;  then  going  nearer 
to  the  bed,  the  light  from  my  lantern  fell  on  your  face 
in  its  calm  repose.  A  pang  of  remorse  shot  through 
my  heart  and  I  experienced  a  feeling  of  shame  that  I 
had  never  known  before,  for  I  saw  before  me  the  man 
who  had  so  many  times  been  kind  to  me  and  the  other 
prisoners;  the  man  whose  kindly  words  of  encourage- 
ment had  so  often  cheered  our  lonely  days.  Father, 
I  didn't  know  you  lived  there;  yet  I  think  God  had  a 
hand  in  my  coming  here,  for  I  made  up  my  mind  last 
night  to  change  my  course  of  life." 

"How  is  it  that  you  are  found  in  the  jail  again  and 
again?"  he  asked  of  another  man  one  time. 

"Well,  Father,"  he  said,  "when  I  am  starving  and 
cannot  get  work,  I  have  to  steal.  If  I  could  only  get 
out  of  the  city,  I  could  get  work,  but  .  .  ." 

"If  you  were  in  another  city,  would  you  really  live 
an  honest  life?" 

"I  would,  Father;  I  have  some  education  and  some 
knowledge  of  a  trade,  and  I  am  determined  to  keep 
away  from  bad  company." 

"Would  fifty  dollars  enable  you  to  reach  such  a 
place?" 

"It  would,  Father,  and  when  I  get  work  I  will  return 
the  money  to  you  with  interest,  if  you  will  give  it  to 
me." 

Father  Feehan  gave  him  the  fifty  dollars,  not  think- 
ing he  would  ever  see  the  man  again.  About  two  years 
later,  however,  he  received  a  letter  from  a  western  city 


30         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

enclosing  a  check  for  $75.00.  The  man  had  secured 
employment  at  good  wages,  had  married  a  good  Catholic 
girl  and  made  himself  a  happy  home.  He  stated  that 
he  could  never  forget  the  priest  of  God  who  had  saved 
him,  soul  and  body.  This  is  but  one  instance  of  many 
such  kind  acts. 

There  was  also  an  industrial  school  in  Father  Fee- 
han's  parish  which  received  much  of  his  attention  and 
thus  his  days  were  full  of  work  and  study. 

On  Sunday,  a  Jesuit  Father  came  to  offer  one  Mass 
at  six  o'clock.  Father  Feehan  said  the  Masses  at  eight 
and  ten-thirty  o'clock  and  heard  confessions  between 
six  and  eight  for  the  convenience  of  those  who  could 
not  attend  the  evening  before.  He  preached  every  Sun- 
day at  the  ten-thirty  o'clock  Mass.  At  two  o'clock  he 
held  Sunday  school  for  one  hour,  and  at  three  o'clock 
he  sat  down  in  the  sanctuary  for  half  an  hour  explain- 
ing the  catechism  to  the  children,  the  teachers,  and  a 
number  of  other  persons  who  attended  those  beautiful 
and  instructive  discourses;  simple  enough  that  a  little 
child  could  understand  them,  yet  embracing  the  most 
sublime  mysteries.  At  three-thirty  o'clock  he  had  Ves- 
pers and  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  after 
which  he  himself  distributed  certain  books  to  the  work- 
ing girls  of  the  parish  from  a  library  he  had  established 
for  them.  Oh,  how  those  girls  longed  for  the  day  to 
come  when  they  would  receive  a  book  from  the  hands 
of  one  whom  they  knew  was  interested  in  their  welfare! 
At  five  o'clock  he  gave  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment to  the  children  and  sisters  at  the  industrial  school. 
After  supper  part  of  his  time  was  taken  by  some  so- 
ciety meetings  of  men,  and  after  these  he  would  go  on 
a  visit  to  his  mother. 

A  few  years  before,  Father  Feehan's  mother  had 


THE   MISSIONARY  31 

suffered  a  stroke  of  paralysis  which  had  enfeebled  her 
lower  limbs.  She  was  also  near-sighted,  and  in  order 
that  she  might  see  the  face  of  her  "Cushla  Machree," 
as  she  loved  to  call  him,  he  would  kneel  on  one  knee 
beside  her  chair  and  permit  her  to  run  her  ringers 
through  his  dark  wavy  hair.  Then  he  would  tell  her 
pleasant  stories  and  anecdotes. 

As  the  parish  was  quite  small,  there  was  no  real  need 
of  a  parochial  school  since  the  children  attended  the 
parish  school  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  There 
was  a  school  for  girls  at  Tenth  and  St.  Charles  streets, 
three  blocks  distant;  another  school  was  on  Fifth  and 
Walnut  streets,  five  blocks  in  another  direction.  The 
Jesuit  College  and  the  Christian  Brothers'  schools  were 
within  a  short  distance;  also  the  Cathedral  school  was 
only  five  blocks  away,  so  that  he  felt  his  children  were 
well  provided  with  schools. 

In  St.  Louis  his  entire  mission  was  one  of  uninter- 
rupted self-sacrifice  and  assiduous  devotion  to  duty. 
During  the  Civil  War  a  hospital  for  wounded  soldiers 
was  established  in  his  parish  and  given  in  charge  of  the 
Sisters  of  Charity.  Every  moment  that  he  could  spare 
from  the  multitudinous  duties  which  were  ever  crowd- 
ing upon  him,  he  spent,  during  the  day  and  away  into 
the  night,  comforting  and  consoling  these  poor  victims 
of  the  grim  war.  In  him  they  reposed  their  confidence, 
and  to  his  care  they  confided  the  last  messages  to  their 
dear  ones  at  home,  while  the  angel  of  death  hovered 
over  their  shattered  frames. 

The  establishment  of  this  hospital  entailed  the  most 
onerous  and  incessant  labor  as  the  soldiers  were  being 
constantly  brought  in  from  the  different  battle-fields. 
After  the  great  battle  of  Shiloh,  boatloads  of  wounded 
men  were  brought  in  for  two  or  three  days  in  succession. 


32         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Many  of  the  poor  fellows  found  a  grave  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi ;  of  those  who  arrived  at  the  wharf  many  others 
died  before  reaching  the  hospital.  The  stretchers  were 
laid  in  rows  on  the  street.  A  great  number  of  the 
wounded  were  Catholics ;  and  there  on  the  sidewalk  dur- 
ing a  whole  day,  Father  Feehan  went  from  one  to  an- 
other administering  the  Sacraments  and  speaking  words 
of  encouragement  to  them.  He  was  surrounded  by  a 
number  of  men  who  stood  with  uncovered  heads.  A 
voice  every  now  and  then  would  call :  "This  way,  Father 
Feehan,  I  am  going  fast."  Or  another:  "Oh,  Father, 
just  raise  your  hand  and  give  me  absolution;  I  am  dying 
for  my  country,  and  God  will  have  mercy  on  me." 

Others  who  were  not  Catholics,  seeing  the  peace  and 
consolation  which  the  Sacraments  brought  to  their  com- 
rades, asked  if  they  could  die  in  the  same  way.  Some 
of  the  men  standing  around  then  instructed  them  as 
to  what  was  absolutely  necessary  to  believe  and  Father 
Feehan  would  baptize  them. 

Those  who  lived  to  get  into  the  hospital  were  soon 
made  as  comfortable  as  possible.  The  sisters  neglected 
nothing  that  could  add  to  their  ease  and  peace.  Thus 
it  was  that  one  morning  a  man  asked  to  be  baptized. 
"I  want  to  belong  to  the  religion  to  which  the  sisters 
belong,"  he  said.  On  being  questioned  about  certain 
points  of  faith  by  Father  Feehan,  the  man  would  turn 
towards  the  sister  and  ask  her,  "Do  you  believe  that?" 
"O  yes,  I  surely  do  believe  that."  And  so  of  every 
question  that  Father  Feehan  asked  the  dying  soldier 
had  to  receive  the  assurance  that  the  sister  believed  the 
same  thing  before  he  would  accept  it.  He  was  baptized 
and  there  were  a  large  number  of  similar  conversions 
in  that  hospital. 

Father  Feehan  seldom  had  an  assistant-priest.     All 


THE   MISSIONARY  33 

the  work  usually  devolved  upon  himself,  and  the  con- 
sequence was  that  in  1864  his  health  began  to  break 
down  and  the  year  after  he  was  forced  to  take  a  vaca- 
tion. He  took  a  trip  to  the  seashore  and  enjoyed  a 
vacation  for  the  first  time  since  his  ordination  to  the 
priesthood,  thirteen  years  before.  Father  Feehan  never 
spared  himself,  never  shirked  a  duty,  never  permitted 
anyone  to  do  for  him  what  he  could  do  for  himself. 

But  now  Divine  Providence  which  had  given  this 
heroic  son  for  a  brief  span  to  sow  the  seed  of  faith  and 
nurture  the  germs  of  religion  in  the  great  city  of  St. 
Louis,  looked  down  with  compassion  upon  an  afflicted 
nation  just  emerging  from  the  fratricidal  strife  of  Civil 
War  and  removed  him  to  another  part  of  the  vineyard. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE 

DEATH  OF  HIS  MOTHER — IS  MADE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE — HIS 
CONSECRATION  IN  ST.  LOUIS — HIS  ARRIVAL  IN  NASHVILLE — 
CONDITIONS  IN  THE  SOUTH — THE  DIOCESE  A  BARREN  MORASS 
—CONSEQUENCES  OF  THE  WAR — THE  BISHOP  BRINGS  LIFE  INTO 
THE  DIOCESE — THE  DOMINICAN  SISTERS — THE  BISHOP'S  LOVE 
FOR  THE  ORPHANS — HIS  LOVE  FOR  CATHOLIC  SCHOOLS — THE 
CHOLERA  EPIDEMIC  IN  NASHVILLE. 

THE  See  of  Nashville,  Term.,  having  become  vacant, 
by  the  resignation  of  Bishop  Whelan  in  1864,  Father 
Feehan  was  nominated  by  Rome  to  fill  the  position. 
With  characteristic  humility,  and  impelled  by  duties  of 
a  filial  nature  to  his  aged  invalid  mother,  he  hastened 
to  decline  the  offer,  and  for  a  time  the  appointment  was 
held  in  abeyance.  However,  the  elevation  of  Father 
Feehan  to  the  exalted  dignity  of  a  "Bishop  of  Holy 
Church"  was  looked  upon  as  a  certainty  and  only  a 
question  of  time,  and  no  one  was  more  fixed  in  the 
determination  to  bring  this  about  than  his  ecclesiastical 
superior,  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Kenrick. 

In  July,  1865,  Father  Feehan's  dearly  beloved  mother 
died.  It  had  been  partly  on  her  account  that  the  ap- 
pointment to  the  See  of  Nashville  had  at  first  been  de- 
clined. After  her  death  the  offer  of  the  See  was  again 
made  and  accepted.  The  Bull  of  the  appointment  to 
Nashville  was  dated  July  7,  1865.1  The  date  of  the 
consecration,  November  1,  1865. 

The  following  is  the  published  report  of  the  consecra- 
tion ceremonies  which  took  place  in  the  Cathedral: — 

"Yesterday  the  consecration  of  the  Right  Rev.  P.  A. 
Feehan,  Bishop  of  Nashville,  took  place.  It  was  at- 

1  See  Appendix  No.  2, 


THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE 


m  LI? 

01 
WWHSItt  r 


THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE  35 

tended  by  grand  and  imposing  ceremonies.  All  the  city 
was  alive  with  interest,  and  during  the  ceremony  the 
Cathedral's  great  span  was  filled  to  overflowing,  and 
without  the  edifice  the  streets  were  blocked  with  patient 
admirers  of  the  Bishop-elect,  who,  to  honor  him,  re- 
mained until  the  conclusion  of  the  services. 

"Among  those  present  were:  Most  Rev.  Archbishop 
Kenrick,  the  Consecrator;  Bishop  Juncker,  of  Alton, 
and  Bishop  Miege,  of  Leavenworth,  Assistant-Con- 
secrators ;  Father  Carroll,  Provincial  of  the  Dominicans 
in  Ireland;  Father  Fielding,  O.  S.  D.,  of  Memphis; 
Father  Kelly,  O.  S.  D.,  Administrator  of  Nashville; 
Father  Powers,  O.  S.  D.;  Father  O'Neil,  S.  J.,  Pres- 
ident of  the  St.  Louis  University;  Father  De  Smet,  S. 
J. ;  Father  Garesche,  S.  J.;  Father  Neusbaum,  S.  J.; 
Father  Whippern,  S.  J. ;  Very  Rev.  Stephen  Ryan,  C. 
M.;  Father  J.  Quigly,  C.  M.;  Father  Burke,  C.  M.; 
Father  Coope,  C.  M.;  Rev.  Dr.  McCloskey,  President 
of  the  American  College  at  Rome;  Rev.  John  J.  Hen- 
nesy;  Rev.  P.  J.  Ryan,  of  the  Annunciation;  Rev.  M. 
O'Riordan,  of  the  Assumption;  Rev.  Father  Gallagher, 
of  St.  Theresa's;  Rev.  P.  J.  Gleason;  Rev.  Father  Cum- 
mings,  of  Louisiana,  Mo.;  Rev.  Father  Cavanaugh; 
Rev.  Father  Vandersanden,  of  Kirkwood;  Rev.  R. 
Tucker;  Rev.  Thomas  Cleary  of  Milwood,  Mo.;  Rev. 
Thomas  Powers;  Father  Coran,  of  Memphis;  Rev.  P. 
R.  Donnelly,  of  the  Cathedral;  Rev.  F.  L.  Kielty, 
Rector  of  the  Cathedral,  and  Rev.  Father  Muhlsiepen, 
of  St.  Mary's. 

"At  10:30  o'clock  Archbishop  Kenrick,  accompanied 
by  the  prelates  and  the  clergy,  marched  in  procession 
through  the  church,  followed  by  the  Christian  Brothers' 
band.  The  Deacons  of  Honor  were :  Rev.  Wm.  Wheel- 
er, of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  and  Rev.  Wm.  Walsh,  of 


36         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

St.  Bridget's;  Deacons  of  the  Mass:  Rev.  Patrick 
O'Brien,  of  St.  Michael's,  and  Rev.  James  Henry,  of 
St.  Lawrence  O'Toole's;  Chaplains  to  the  Bishop-elect 
were:  Rev.  J.  Burke,  of  Tipton,  and  Rev.  M.  Walsh, 
of  Edina,  Mo. ;  Master  of  Ceremonies :  Rev.  Fr.  Neus- 
baum,  S.  J.,  assisted  by  Mr.  Daniel  Lynch;  Archi- 
episcopal  Cross  Bearer:  Mr.  Stromberger. 

"After  the  first  Gospel,  Right  Rev.  James  Duggan, 
Bishop  of  Chicago,  ascended  the  pulpit  and  preached  an 
eloquent  sermon,  taking  his  text  from  St.  Paul's  Epistle 
to  the  Ephesians,  Chapter  IV,  verses  11,  12,  13:  'And 
He  gave  some  apostles,  and  some  prophets,  and  other 
some  evangelists,  and  other  some  pastors  and  doctors, 
for  the  perfecting  of  the  Saints,  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ;  until 
we  all  meet  into  the  unity  of  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  meas- 
ure of  the  age  of  the  fulness  of  Christ.' 

"After  the  sermon  the  Mass  was  concluded.  Mozart's 
Twelfth  Mass  was  finely  rendered  by  the  choir;  the 
solos  and  the  choruses  producing  an  effect  seldom 
equaled.  At  the  end  of  the  Mass  the  choir  chanted  the 
"Te  Deum,"  whilst  the  Bishops  in  procession  escorted 
the  newly  consecrated  prelate  around  the  church;  and 
as  the  multitude  kneeled  to  receive  for  the  first  time  the 
Episcopal  blessing  from  the  hands  of  him  who  had  so 
long,  so  faithfully,  and  so  meekly  devoted  himself  to 
them,  many  were  the  moistened  eyes  in  the  sacred  build- 
ing; for  no  matter  how  much  the  pious  Christians  re- 
joiced that  one  so  eminently  qualified  for  that  exalted 
position  had  attained  the  honor,  still  they  could  not  but 
regret  that  they  were  about  to  be  deprived  of  his  holy 
and  enlightened  counsel. 

"In  the  evening,  Pontifical  Vespers  were  chanted  with 


THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE  37 

great  solemnity  and  splendor,  Rev.  Father  Neusbaum, 
S.  J.,  of  St.  Louis  University,  officiating.  As  the 
throng  of  people  poured  out  of  the  edifice  the  effect 
was  indeed  grand.  As  the  sacred  tones  of  the  organ 
died  away,  the  Christian  Brothers'  band  played  a  trium- 
phal march,  and  escorted  to  their  hall  the  Total  Ab- 
stinence Society,  four  hundred  in  number,  who  had  oc- 
cupied a  prominent  position  during  the  services." 

On  the  evening  of  the  ninth  of  November,  1865, 
Bishop  Feehan  arrived  in  Nashville.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  P.  R.  Kenrick  of 
St.  Louis,  Bishop  Duggan  of  Chicago,  Father  Kelly, 
O.  P.,  administrator  of  the  diocese  of  Nashville,  and  the 
Rev.  Fathers  Riordan  and  Walsh  of  St.  Louis.1 

The  Bishop's  well  known  repugnance  to  unnecessary 
display  on  all  occasions,  and  especially  on  this  one,  re- 
lieved his  entrance  into  the  diocese  of  all  ostentatious 
demonstrations,  so  that  his  advent  among  his  new  flock 
was  notable  for  the  modesty  and  simplicity  of  the  wel- 
come and  the  ceremonies  usually  attending  such  events. 
That  fine  conception  of  the  duties  imposed  upon  those 
whose  lives  are  consecrated  exclusively  to  religion  and 
the  service  of  God,  forbade  any  suggestion  of  the  garish 
show  which  marks  the  entree  of  the  masters  of  the  mate- 
rial world  into  the  offices  of  temporal  power  and  honor ; 
and  the  innate  instincts  of  a  refined  and  sympathetic 
nature  rebelled  against  the  thought  of  lavish  display 
at  a  time  when  the  entire  South  was  wrapped  in  gloom, 
its  vast  expanse  of  territory  devasted  by  the  thunder- 
ing tread  of  conquering  legions,  and  the  hearts  of  its 
people  withering  beneath  the  crushing  blows  of  mate- 
rial ruin  and  the  grim  messenger  of  death,  whose  spec- 
tral presence  in  so  many  whilom  happy  homes,  had 

i  These  two  priests  came  to  the  diocese  with  the  new  Bishop  and  both 
gave  up  their  lives  in  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  of  1878. 


38         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

enveloped  the  survivors  in  one  great  somber  mantle  of 
wretchedness  and  agony. 

The  heart  of  the  South  was  broken.  To  deride  the 
misery  of  his  people  with  the  martial  fanfare  of  trum- 
pets and  the  roll  of  drum ;  to  emphasize  his  own  trium- 
phant entree  by  gorgeous  pageants  with  flying  banners 
and  streaming  pennons  was  a  thought  too  abhorrent  to 
enter  for  a  single  instant  the  mind  of  this  gentle  servant 
of  God  and  devoted  Father  of  his  people. 

The  scene  which  confronted  the  Bishop  on  his  first 
survey  of  his  new  field  of  labors,  was  one  of  unutterable 
sadness.  A  deep  pall  of  gloom  had  settled  upon  the 
dying  embers  of  the  watchfires  that  had  lit  up  the  broad 
valleys  and  the  hilltops,  and  to  the  flap  of  the  shot-torn 
battle  banners  had  succeeded  the  mournful  ensigns  of 
death,  chanting  their  dismal  dirges  down  the  winter's 
blasts:  over  the  diocese  stalked  the  gaunt  spectre  of 
hunger,  shrieking  his  mocking  anthems  in  rhythmic  ca- 
dence to  the  wails  and  sobs  of  desolation;  through  the 
forests  and  the  fields,  under  the  midday  sun  and  far 
into  the  vigils  of  the  night,  through  the  deserted  cham- 
bers of  ancestral  halls — the  abodes  of  the  once  powerful 
and  great — and  in  the  dark,  bleak  alleys  of  the  lowly 
and  the  poor,  the  angel  of  destruction  had  left  the  ter- 
rible seal  of  his  visitation. 

The  thundering  voice  of  the  round-lipped  cannon  had 
ceased  to  reverberate  in  the  land  and  the  clashing  sound 
of  the  warriors'  steel  had  died  away,  echoed  only  by  the 
plaintive  notes  of  the  skylark  and  the  saddened  strains 
of  the  mocking  birds ;  for  all  animate  nature  had  indeed 
drunk  deep  at  the  cruel  fountain  of  man's  inhumanity 
to  man.  But  the  defeated  battlers  had  yet  their  arms 
to  beat  into  implements  of  peaceful  pursuit ;  the  resump- 
tion of  normal  life  had  not  begun  and  men  were  not  yet 


THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE  39 

launched  into  the  commotion  of  active  affairs.  All  was 
desolation;  all  was  confusion.  "Woe  unto  the  van- 
quished," cried  stern  Brennus,  when  his  ponderous  sword 
bore  down  the  spoils  of  Rome. 

Blessed  be  the  compassionate  and  the  merciful,  is  the 
logic  of  the  ages,  borne  on  the  thunder's  angry  roar, 
from  Him  Whose  omnipotent  Providence  launched  the 
mighty  spheres  on  their  endless  courses  and  belted  the 
celestial  dome  with  glittering  jewels  of  unfading  beauty. 
To  the  weak  the  strong  are  given:  to  the  Jews  was 
given  David;  and  to  the  stricken  people  of  Tennessee, 
in  the  darkest  hour  of  their  sorrow  and  tribulation,  was 
given  a  faithful  servant  of  a  compassionate  and  merci- 
ful Master. 

To  heighten  the  melancholy  scenes  presented  to  the 
Bishop  upon  his  arrival  in  Nashville  on  the  evening  of 
November  9th,  the  elements  fully  contributed  their 
share.  "It  had  been  raining  several  days,"  wrote  one 
of  the  clergymen  who  accompanied  the  Bishop  from  St. 
Louis;  "the  fences  around  the  old  Cathedral  were 
broken  down  and  dilapidated ;  everything  looked  gloomy 
— it  was  rain,  rain,  rain,  for  days.  It  seemed  as  if 
the  sun  would  never  smile  upon  the  earth  again." 
"John,"  said  one  of  the  visiting  prelates  to  the  sexton 
on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  "does  the  sun  ever  shine 
here?"  "O  yes,  my  Lord,"  answered  John,  in  dead 
earnest,  "it  shines  sometimes;  it  shines  in  summer,  my 
Lord." 

During  the  war  the  cathedral  and  the  episcopal  resi- 
dence had  been  used  for  a  soldiers'  home  and  buildings 
and  grounds  were  in  a  very  bad  state.  In  fact,  the 
entire  city  was  in  a  most  deplorable  condition,  physi- 
cally, morally  and  financially,  and  the  interests  of  the 
Church  had  suffered  from  so  many  causes  that  the 


40         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

problem  of  re-establishing  them  and  restoring  order  and 
prosperity  from  chaos  and  financial  ruin  was  one  which 
offered  almost  insurmountable  difficulties  to  its  solu- 
tion. 

The  diocese  of  Nashville  had  been  the  highway  of 
both  armies  and  the  theater  of  some  of  the  bloodiest 
battles  of  the  Civil  War.  Fort  Donelson  on  the  Cum- 
berland, Fort  Henry  on  the  Tennessee,  Shiloh,  Frank- 
lin, Stone  River,  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge, 
Chattanooga  and  Nashville,  all  were  historic  fields  and 
turning  points  in  the  destinies  of  the  contending  forces. 
Every  mission  in  the  diocese  had  the  same  sad  history 
and  presented  discouraging  conditions  similar  to  those 
that  confronted  the  Bishop  at  Nashville.  Debts  and 
demoralization  held  sway  on  every  side.  "If  the  Bishop 
needed  a  loaf  of  bread  on  credit,  he  could  not  procure 
it.  When  he  left  there,  his  word  was  a  bond." 

The  Bishop  set  himself  to  the  work  with  resolute  gen- 
tleness and  patience,  and  with  a  vigor  that  deserved  the 
signal  success  with  which  it  was  crowned.  There  were 
at  the  time  only  three  secular  priests  in  the  whole  State 
of  Tennessee.  Bishop  Feehan  succeeded  at  once  in  pro- 
curing for  his  diocese  a  large  number  of  students  for 
the  priesthood,  and  soon  several  zealous  young  secular 
priests  were  earnestly  engaged  in  the  work  of  gaining 
and  saving  souls. 

No  one  ever  heard  Bishop  Feehan  complain  or  be- 
moan his  appointment  to  a  diocese  that  offered  such  an 
unfavorable  field.  He  did  what  was  possible  for  each 
mission,  and  was  silent.  He  invited  and  attracted  to 
the  diocese  a  number  of  priests  who  were  drawn  thither 
by  its  wants  and  the  personal  character  of  its  Bishop. 
Not  many  months  passed  before  it  was  observed  that 
Bishop  Feehan  seemed  to  have  stamped  and  sealed  with 


THE  BISHOP  OF  NASHVILLE  41 

his  own  character  the  priests  of  his  diocese.  This  was 
fully  proven  some  years  later  by  the  number  who  died 
of  yellow  fever  in  the  plague  times  in  Memphis  and 
elsewhere  in  the  diocese. 

By  his  untiring  efforts  and  constant  attendance  to 
duty  the  Bishop  brought  the  people  to  the  Sacraments; 
he  himself  instructed  and  prepared  the  children  for  First 
Holy  Communion  and  Confirmation,  and  by  his  busi- 
ness talent  won  the  confidence  of  the  community.  He 
improved  the  Cathedral  and  the  surroundings.  St. 
Cecilia's  Convent,  the  mother-house  of  the  Dominican 
Sisters,  he  found  heavily  involved  in  debt.  The  prop- 
erty was  sold  at  public  auction  but  bought  by  the  Bishop, 
and  so  excellent  was  his  management  that  he  soon  had 
it  entirely  free  from  financial  embarrassment  of  any 
kind.  A  magnificent  addition  was  also  erected  by  the 
side  of  the  old  building  and  in  a  short  time  an  excellent 
reputation  was  established  throughout  the  South  for 
the  Sisters  of  St.  Cecilia's. 

In  1866,  he  brought  to  Nashville  the  Sisters  of  Mercy 
who  opened  St.  Bernard's  Academy.  They  first  taught 
in  a  building  opposite  the  Cathedral,  but  in  1869  pur- 
chased the  spacious  residence  of  ex-Governor  Brown, 
fronting  the  Capitol.  Here  they  conducted  one  of  the 
finest  educational  establishments  in  the  South,  and  from 
it  many  of  the  most  talented  and  fairest  women  of  the 
"Athens  of  the  South"  have  graduated.  Before  the 
purchase  of  the  convent  by  the  Bishop,  the  palatial  man- 
sion was  occupied  by  the  governors  of  the  State  of 
Tennessee.  In  it  Andrew  Jackson  lived  in  his  halcyon 
days,  and  thousands  of  interesting  associations  surround 
i*. 

The  first  visit  that  Bishop  Feehan  made  after  his 
arrival  in  Nashville,  was  to  St.  Joseph's  Orphan  Asy- 


42         THE  LIFE   OF    ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

lum,  about  two  miles  from  the  city,  and  under  the  care 
of  the  Dominican  Sisters.  A  welcome  address  was  read 
by  one  of  the  orphans,  and  the  Bishop  spent  his  time 
questioning  and  receiving  answers  from  each  little 
orphan.  From  that  day  Bishop  Feehan  was  the 
"Father  of  the  Orphans"  in  his  diocese. 

The  same  evening  St.  Cecilia's  Academy  was  visited. 
The  Bishop  was  met  at  the  entrance  by  all  the  Sisters 
and  conducted  to  the  Academy  Hall,  Avhere  the  pupils 
were  assembled  to  greet  him;  there  the  distinguished 
visitor  listened  to  an  appropriate  address  to  the  new 
Bishop,  delivered  by  one  of  the  young  ladies  in  the  name 
of  St.  Cecilia's  Academy,  and  the  Bishop  expressed 
himself  as  highly  delighted  with  the  reception  accorded 
him. 

Preparatory  schools  were  soon  established  in  North 
and  East  Nashville.  Another  important  acquisition  was 
the  cemetery  on  the  Lebanon  pike,  near  Mount  Olivet. 
It  still  is  a  standing  credit  to  the  man  who  selected  it. 
The  Bishop  further  extended  the  church  in  Edgefield, 
East  Nashville,  where  there  was  a  small  church  called 
"St.  John's,"  located  on  what  was  called  "Gallatin 
Pike,"  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  streets.  The  church 
had  fallen  into  decay  during  the  days  of  the  war,  but 
it  was  now  reconstructed  and  made  into  a  commodious 
building. 

In  August,  1866,  the  cholera  made  its  appearance  in 
Nashville.  During  the  ravages  of  this  epidemic,  Bishop 
Feehan  labored  unceasingly  to  console  the  sick  and  the 
dying.  All  those  who  could  leave  the  city  hastened 
away.  A  dark  cloud  hung  over  Nashville :  the  sun  was 
not  visible  during  the  whole  time  it  lasted;  all  business 
was  suspended  and  no  vegetables  even  were  permitted 
to  be  sold. 


THE   BISHOP  43 

The  Sisters  of  Mercy  as  well  as  the  Dominicans  at 
once  offered  their  services  to  attend  the  sick,  and  these 
were  gratefully  accepted.  Carriages  were  placed  at 
their  disposal  no  matter  where  they  wanted  to  go.  Day 
and  night  they  were  perfectly  safe.  One  evening,  in 
the  beginning  of  the  epidemic,  the  train  from  Louisville 
stopped  in  Nashville.  As  this  was  entirely  unexpected, 
the  passengers  looked  about  in  consternation,  and  rose 
from  their  seats.  Were  passengers  from  the  stricken 
city  getting  on?  they  inquired.  "No,"  answered  the 
conductor,  "it  is  only  two  Sisters  of  Mercy  getting  off 
to  nurse  the  sick."  "Oh!  how  I  pity  them,"  said  some 
one.  Then  the  train  sped  on. 

The  people  of  Nashville  said  it  was  most  remarkable 
that  wherever  the  good  Sisters  did  the  nursing,  the 
patients  got  well;  yet,  strange  to  say,  not  one  of  the 
Sisters  caught  the  disease,  due  perhaps  to  the  care  they 
exercised  in  regard  to  the  food  they  used,  but  more 
likely  to  the  Providence  of  God,  who  kindly  protected 
these  angels  of  Christian  Charity. 


CHAPTER  V 

HIS  EPISCOPAL  VISITATIONS 

HIS  WORK  THROUGHOUT  THE  DIOCESE — RESULTS  OF  HIS  EFFORTS 
SOON  VISIBLE — SOME  EXPERIENCES  ON  HIS  VISITATION  TOURS 
— THE  CHURCH  AT  MEMPHIS — TRANSFER  OF  FATHER  WALSH 
— THE  BISHOP'S  ANSWER  TO  THE  COMMITTEE — SOME  FINE 
TRAITS  OF  CHARACTER — CALVARY  CEMETERY  AT  MEMPHIS — 
HOW  THE  BISHOP  HATED  FLATTERY — HIS  AVERSION  TO  TRAVEL 
— AN  AMUSING  INCIDENT — HIS  WORK  OF  FIFTEEN  YEARS  IN 
THE  DIOCESE. 

THE  most  notable  services  of  Bishop  Feehan  in  re- 
constructing things  were  not  confined  to  Nashville. 
Whatever  he  did  for  this  city  is  only  small  evidence  of 
the  work  performed  by  him  in  every  town  in  the  state. 
He  visited  every  place  where  Catholicism  had  found  a 
foothold,  or  where  there  might  be  a  welcome,  and 
devoted  his  energies  to  counseling,  encouraging  and 
organizing  the  work.  Chattanooga,  Memphis  and 
Knoxville  bear  especial  testimony  to  his  indefatigable 
labors  for  the  congregations  of  those  cities. 

"He  carried  to  his  labors,"  said  one  of  his  devoted 
priests,  "not  only  an  inexhaustible  ability  to  work,  but 
a  brilliancy  of  thought,  a  modesty  of  demeanor,  a  ripe- 
ness of  experience,  and  an  abounding  piety  that  won 
him  friends  on  every  hand  and  inspired  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact  with  a  devotion  and  love  for  God, 
such  as  it  is  seldom  given  to  earthly  ministers  to  ac- 
complish. And  when  he  assumed  his  priestly  robes  and 
appeared  before  the  congregation  at  the  altar,  he  was 
so  transfigured  by  the  consciousness  of  his  sacred  office, 
that  they  who  saw  could  not  help  but  worship." 

The  effect  of  such  a  character  was  soon  visible  on 
every  hand.  A  reviving  and  strengthening  spirit  per- 

44 


HIS  EPISCOPAL  VISITATIONS  45 

vaded  the  state,  and  it  may  be  truly  said  of  Bishop 
Feehan,  that  he  gave  dignity  and  prestige  to  Catholicism 
in  Tennessee. 

As  an  instance  of  his  equanimity  under  all  circum- 
stances, the  following  fact  is  told  by  an  old  Vicar 
General  of  the  diocese  of  Nashville :  "Years  ago  he  ac- 
companied me  to  the  Bear  Springs  furnace  settlement 
in  Stewart  County.  We  left  the  train  at  Erin  on  the 
L.  &  N.  R.  R.,  and  traveled  in  a  buggy  about  eighteen 
miles  to  the  furnace  grounds.  Next  morning,  the 
Bishop,  after  hearing  confessions,  offered  Mass  and  ad- 
ministered the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation.  The  house 
in  which  the  services  were  held  was  one  of  those  box 
houses  of  one  room  and  part  of  the  upstairs  boarded. 
The  other  part  had  no  flooring,  so  that  the  Bishop's 
tall  figure,  as  he  extended  his  arms  and  moved  about 
while  preaching,  sent  the  mitre  literally  between  the 
joists,  putting  it  in  anything  but  a  dignified  position 
on  his  head  and  adding  to  the  growing  wonder  of  the 
gaping  natives,  who  felt  puzzled  enough  to  understand 
a  priest's  vestments,  but  were  astounded  at  seeing  a 
Bishop  with  such  a  hat. 

When  everything  was  over,  the  Bishop  and  I  went 
to  get  something  to  eat  in  the  little  alcove  or  elbow  that 
held  the  stove.  There  was  literally  not  even  a  morsel 
on  the  table.  The  lady  of  the  house,  the  non-Catholic 
wife  of  a  good  Irishman,  looked  puzzled  and  mortified. 
On  a  later  visit  only  I  learned  the  cause.  The  good  lady 
was  accustomed  to  get  breakfast  early  for  the  furnace 
hands,  so  on  this  occasion  she  got  everything  ready  and 
prepared  enough  for  the  Bishop  and  me.  That  part 
of  the  crowd  who  could  not  get  near  enough  to  see  the 
ceremonies  did  not  feel  like  being  idle,  so  they  devoured 
all  the  eatables  they  could  find  in  the  house.  We  rode 


46         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

back  eighteen  miles  without  a  morsel,  and  reached  the 
station  about  6  P.  M.  There,  as  we  alighted,  the  Bishop 
was  accosted  in  terms  of  friendly  welcome  by  a  Nash- 
ville politician  who  had  been  electioneering  among  the 
people  in  that  section  of  the  state.  'Now,  my  young 
man,'  the  Bishop  said  to  me  as  the  gentleman  went 
away,  'you  see  what  that  man  will  submit  to  in  his  efforts 
to  gain  votes  that  will  ensure  him  office,  at  most  but  for 
a  few  years.  What  a  lesson  for  ourselves!'  I  was  too 
weak  and  too  hungry  to  moralize  just  then,  but  I  could 
not  help  being  impressed  by  the  Bishop's  undisturbed 
equanimity." 

At  another  time,  Bishop  Feehan  went  to  a  country 
place  to  administer  Confirmation.  The  Catholic 
farmers  had  published  far  and  wide  that  the  Bishop 
was  coming  on  a  certain  day.  When  the  day  arrived 
the  people,  of  all  denominations  or  none,  came  in 
covered  wagons  drawn  by  oxen  and  brought  with 
them  cooking  utensils  and  bedding,  with  the  intention 
evidently  of  remaining  for  days.  They  expected  a  camp- 
meeting,  and  acted  with  much  reverence  and  respect. 
They  improvised  a  pulpit  by  utilizing  a  wagon,  decor- 
ated with  green  boughs,  in  a  fine  open  space  bordered 
by  forest  trees;  then  sitting  on  the  grass  they  listened 
to  the  Bishop's  sermon.  Afterwards  the  men  gathered 
around  him  and  begged  him  to  remain  a  week  with  them. 
He  explained  that  time  would  not  permit,  but  that  he 
would  see  them  again  and  talk  to  them  at  greater  length ; 
that  he  would  send  a  priest  meanwhile  to  visit  them 
often,  who  would  also  instruct  them.  One  man  prom- 
ised to  give  a  piece  of  ground  and  build  a  church  and 
house  for  a  priest,  and  even  furnish  both.  This  man 
was  not  a  Catholic,  but  his  wife  was,  and  he  did  all  he 
promised.  Many  of  these  people  were  baptized  when 
a  priest  went  among  them. 


HIS  EPISCOPAL  VISITATIONS  47 

The  following  incident  is  related  by  a  priest  who  upon 
one  occasion  accompanied  the  Bishop  when  he  was 
traveling  in  a  country  district.  The  Bishop  happened 
to  meet  a  native  on  the  road,  who  eyed  him  in  a  manner 
indicating  great  surprise  and  curiosity.  Then  he  ac- 
costed the  Bishop  using  the  dialect  common  to  illiterate 
people  of  that  section.  "Howdy,  stranger."  The 
Bishop  returned  the  salute.  "Be  ye  from  these  'ere 
parts?"  Saying  this  he  scrutinized  the  Bishop's  apparel 
and  then  without  waiting  for  a  reply  continued:  "I 
reckin  not.  What  kyounty  be  ye  from?" 

Quite  seriously  the  Bishop  answered:  "From  the 
County  Tipperary." 

"Wai,  I  swan,  I  thought  I  knowed  every  kyounty  in 
Tennessee,  but  I  never  heerd  tell  of  that  one  afore.  Tip- 
perary! Tipperary!  he  repeated.  Wai,  I  give  it  up. 
Tell  me  stranger,  where  that  'ere  kyounty  is?" 

"Well,  my  friend,"  rejoined  the  Bishop,  "if  I  told 
you,  you  would  not  be  any  the  wiser."  After  a  pause 
the  native  proceeded: 

"Stranger,  be  ye  a  preacher?" 

"No,  I  am  not  known  as  a  preacher." 

"A  doctor  mebbe?" 

"No,  not  a  doctor." 

"A  liar  then,  I  reckin?" 

"No,  not  a  lawyer." 

"Yous  don't  look  like  a  merchant  nuther." 

"No,  I  am  not  a  merchant." 

"Wai,  I'm  bet  agin.    What  be  ye  anyway?" 

"Well,"  said  the  Bishop  smiling,  "I  will  tell  you.  I 
am  a  Catholic  Bishop  or  perhaps  you  would  understand 
better  if  I  should  say  a  Catholic  priest." 

"Wai,  I  swan,  I  heerd  of  thim  people,  but  I  kinder 
thought  they  was  different  from  other  folks,  but  yous 


48         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

look  like  the  finest  man  I  ever  seen  in  my  life."  Again 
he  looked  the  Bishop  over  from  head  to  foot.  "Wai, 
I  am  powerful  glad  I  met  yous.  I  kin  tell  the  folks 
whin  I  go  home  that  I  seen  a  Catholic  Bishop  and  that 
he  looked  like  other  folks,  only  finer." 

Many  incidents  of  the  life  of  the  great  prelate  during 
his  ministry  in  the  diocese  of  Nashville  are  related  by 
those  priests  of  his  diocese  who  labored  with  him  and 
loved  him  so  well.  As  an  illustration  of  his  uncom- 
promising sternness  in  the  performance  of  duty,  the 
following,  one  of  many  similar  instances,  may  be  cited: 

When  Father  Feehan  was  first  appointed  to  the  See 
of  Nashville  in  1865,  two  personal  friends  and  co-labor- 
ers in  the  Archdiocese  of  St.  Louis  volunteered  to  ac- 
company him  and  become  affiliated  with  the  new  diocese ; 
they  were  Very  Rev.  M.  Riordan  and  Rev.  Martin 
Walsh.  The  Bishop  immediately  appointed  Father 
Riordan  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  Memphis,  and 
made  him  Vicar  General  of  the  Diocese.  Father  Walsh 
remained  with  the  Bishop  in  Nashville,  as  acting  pastor 
of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral.  Father  Walsh  soon  became 
a  great  favorite  in  Nashville  and  during  the  years  he 
was  connected  with  the  Cathedral,  the  parishioners 
loved  him  greatly.  He  was  a  most  exemplary  priest. 

Memphis  at  the  time  had  three  churches,  namely :  St. 
Peter's,  St.  Mary's,  and  St.  Patrick's,  but  the  city  was 
growing  so  fast  that  a  new  church  was  called  for  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  city,  commonly  known  as  "Pinch." 
Now  the  Bishop  decided  to  send  Father  Walsh  to  Mem- 
phis to  form  the  new  St.  Bridget's  congregation.  When 
the  people  of  Nashville  heard  of  this  they  were  simply 
dumbfounded  and  a  deputation  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Nashville,  including  many  Protestants,  waited  on  the 
Bishop  with  a  petition  to  allow  Father  Walsh  to  remain 


HIS  EPISCOPAL   VISITATIONS  49 

amongst  them.  When  the  Bishop  entered  the  parlor 
the  committee  respectfully  rose  to  their  feet.  The  Bishop 
remained  standing  whilst  the  committee  addressed  him. 
When  all  was  said,  the  Bishop  smilingly  remarked,  that 
since  it  was  Monday  and  most  of  his  visitors  business 
men,  he  did  not  wish  to  detain  them.  "No  doubt,"  said 
he,  "y°u  would  consider  it  very  strange  if  I  or  any  of 
my  priests  were  to  dictate  to  you  in  your  mercantile 
business  dealings;  hence,  I  request  you,  gentlemen,  not 
to  meddle  with  matters  that  belong  to  me  as  Bishop  of 
the  diocese.  Good  morning,"  said  the  Bishop,  as  he 
respectfully  retreated. 

As  soon  as  the  deputation  had  departed  the  Bishop 
went  up  the  stairs  and  rapping  at  Father  Walsh's  door, 
said,  "Father  Walsh,  there  is  a  train  leaving  Nashville 
at  5 :30  o'clock ;  you  will  try  and  be  ready  for  that  train 
this  evening."  Father  Walsh  knew  the  Bishop  too  well 
to  remonstrate;  he  did  not  even  have  a  chance  to  bid 
farewell  to  his  many  friends  in  Nashville. 

Bishop  Feehan  was  very  easily  understood  as  far  as 
his  mental  processes  were  concerned.  He  was  logical 
and  firm.  He  changed  his  opinions  slowly.  He  was  a 
good  judge  of  human  nature  that  was  honest  but  could 
be  deceived  by  the  designing.  He  believed  that  those 
who  approached  him  were  gentlemen  and  treated  them 
as  such.  When  he  ascertained  that  any  one  had  abused 
his  confidence  or  acted  in  an  underhand  manner,  woe 
betide  the  offender!  He  would  not  enter  into  an  argu- 
ment, but  would  refuse  to  have  any  further  dealings 
with  such  a  person.  No  amount  of  explanation  could 
restore  one  who  had  violated  his  trust  and  confidence. 
In  argument,  joke  and  discussion,  each  one  who  knew 
him  felt  that  there  was  a  clearly  defined  line  beyond 
which  it  was  not  safe  to  venture.  This  was  well  illus- 


50         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

trated  by  Archbishop  Ryan  who  preached  his  funeral 
sermon. 

After  the  services  of  the  funeral  one  of  the  clergy 
asked  Archbishop  Ryan  if  Archbishop  Feehan  had  al- 
ways been  so  modest  and  retiring  or  had  he  acquired 
these  qualities  with  age.  His  Grace  replied:  "Gentle- 
man, Archbishop  Feehan  was  the  same  in  old  age  as  in 
youth.  Archbishop  Hennesy  and  I  Lived  in  the  same 
house  with  him  for  some  time.  We  were  most  intimate 
friends.  He  was  always  quiet,  unostentatious  and  re- 
tiring. His  kindness  and  mercy  in  judging  people  were 
unusual.  He  was  a  better  theologian  and  a  better  Latin 
and  Greek  scholar  than  either  of  us,  and  we  naturally 
joked  each  other  a  great  deal  as  young  men  will  do. 
All  during  my  life  I  have  loved  a  joke  and  have  often 
gone  perhaps  too  far  not  recognizing  proper  limits,  but 
I  wish  to  assure  you  that  Archbishop  Feehan  was  the 
only  man  I  ever  met  that  I  would  not  risk  to  the  limit. 
There  was  a  line  beyond  which,  even  I,  bold  as  I  was 
and  intimate  friend  that  I  was,  would  not  dare  pass. 
There  was  a  something  about  him  that  I  never  found  in 
such  a  marked  degree  in  any  other  man.  His  sanctuary, 
he  seemed  to  say,  must  not  be  violated.  No,  the  Arch- 
bishop was  the  same  when  as  a  deacon  he  came 
from  Ireland  as  he  was  the  last  time  I  saw  him  as  Arch- 
bishop of  Chicago." 

All  who  really  knew  the  Archbishop  will  agree  with 
what  His  Grace  from  Philadelphia  said.  There  was  an 
undefinable  something  that  warned  the  intruder  that  he 
was  approaching  the  danger  line.  Of  his  innermost 
heart  we  may  say  that  he  obeyed  the  injunction  of  the 
poet, 

Keep  thou  thine  heart,  close  fastened,  unrevealed, 
A  fenced  garden,  and  a  fountain  sealed. 


HIS  EPISCOPAL  VISITATIONS  51 

With  all  his  kindness,  however,  he  was  never  weak  in 
making  his  decisions  or  in  maintaining  them.  He  often 
said  he  would  rather  he  judged  for  his  mistakes  through 
mercy  than  for  those  through  harshness.  Never  harsh 
or  irascible,  all  understood  that  he  must  be  obeyed. 
When  after  deliberation  he  had  given  his  decision  he 
would  listen  to  argument,  but  usually  make  no  re- 
joinder. A  slight  quivering  and  movement  of  his  long 
upper  lip  was  an  infallible  sign  that  the  case  was  closed. 

Social  and  newspaper  notoriety  was  another  bete 
noire  with  good  Bishop  Feehan.  During  the  cholera 
and  yellow  fever  plagues  that  decimated  Nashville  and 
Memphis,  the  Bishop's  name  scarcely  appeared  in  any 
daily  or  weekly  newspaper,  for  he  would  have  no  re- 
porter or  press  correspondent  approach  him.  It  was 
said  after  his  promotion  to  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago, 
that  one  of  the  chief  reasons  why  the  Propaganda  elected 
him  was  that  no  complaints  from  priests  or  people  ever 
reached  Rome  from  Tennessee,  and  that  he  was  the 
very  man  to  maintain  and  preserve  peace  and  order  in 
the  Church. 

When  the  Very  Rev.  Father  Martin  Riordan  died  in 
Memphis,  he  left  considerable  debts  owing  to  the  pur- 
chase of  Calvary  cemetery.  After  the  yellow  fever 
catastrophe  his  successors  at  St.  Patrick's  (Fathers 
Doyle  and  Quinn)  found  it  impossible  to  meet  the  many 
urgent  calls  for  money  loaned  to  the  late  Father  Martin 
Riordan.  Some  of  the  creditors  even  threatened  law- 
suits against  St.  Patrick's  Church.  Father  Quinn,  on 
the  other  hand,  received  letters  from  Bishop  Feehan 
strictly  forbidding  him  under  any  circumstances  to  go  to 
court.  "If  all  fails,"  wrote  the  Bishop,  "you  can  write 
to  me  and  I  will  try  to  assist  you."  To  stop  one  law- 
suit the  Bishop  is  known  to  have  sent  Father  Quinn 


52         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  out  of  his  own  private 
resources. 

Another  salient  characteristic  of  the  Bishop  which 
also  sometimes  afforded  considerable  amusement,  was 
his  aversion  to  all  manner  of  flattery,  as  well  as  to  all 
manner  of  complaints  tendered  to  him  by  priests  or 
laity.  Those  priests  or  religious  who  brought  small 
grievances  for  him  to  adjust  were,  in  the  language  of 
the  Cathedral  clergy,  "doomed."  The  priests  who 
wished  to  retain  the  Bishop's  favor  kept  aloof,  know- 
ing well  that  the  less  frequently  they  approached  him 
the  better  their  interests  would  be  served.  From  what 
has  been  said  it  should  not  be  inferred,  however,  that 
Bishop  Feehan  was  of  an  unsociable  disposition.  In 
conversation  and  post-prandial  social  intercourse  he  was 
the  soul  of  wit  and  repartee.  He  sometimes  had  his 
auditors  convulsed  with  laughter,  a  faint  smile  being  the 
only  evidence  that  he  himself  enjoyed  the  joke  related. 

Traveling  on  railroads  and  steamboats  he  always  dis- 
liked. When  we  consider  his  gigantic  stature,  extreme 
modesty,  and  dignity  of  manner,  this  aversion  to  travel 
may  be  easily  understood.  During  his  long  episcopate, 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  only  three  times.  In  fact,  ex- 
cept for  an  occasional  visit  to  Newport,  he  seldom  left 
home  at  all. 

One  instance  of  the  casualties  and  annoyance  of 
travel  will  illustrate  what  may  have  rendered  traveling 
so  distasteful  to  him.  A  priest  from  the  diocese  of  Nash- 
ville relates  the  incident.  "After  administering  Con- 
firmation in  the  several  churches  of  Memphis  in  1877, 
the  Bishop  on  his  return  to  Nashville  took  a  seat  in  a 
parlor  car.  By  way  of  consoling  one  of  his  missionary 
priests  who  sat  behind  him,  he  remarked,  how  pleasant 
it  must  be  for  a  priest  to  be  able  to  attend  his  missions 
in  such  beautiful  cars.  The  priest  whom  he  addressed 


HIS  EPISCOPAL   VISITATIONS  53 

admitted  there  were  many  comforts,  but  also  a  few  in- 
conveniences encountered  sometimes  by  priests  travel- 
ing in  such  style.  His  Grace  very  soon  learned  the  truth 
of  this  last  remark.  The  seat  in  front  of  the  Bishop 
was  occupied  by  a  fashionably  dressed  lady  and  her 
daughter,  a  playful  little  miss  of  some  five  summers. 
The  child  held  in  her  arms  a  big  doll,  and  turning 
around  presented  the  doll  for  the  Bishop  to  kiss.  Each 
time  the  child  presented  the  toy,  the  Bishop,  whose  face 
was  crimson  with  blushes,  held  it  back  with  his  hand, 
and  the  mother  cast  a  few  surprised  glances  at  the  queer 
man  who  would  not  play  with  her  child.  The  priest 
who  sat  behind  the  Bishop  enjoyed  the  cruel  sport,  but 
at  last  thought  himself  bound  in  real  charity  to  divert 
the  child's  attention  to  himself.  The  child  catching  the 
priest's  eye  immediately  ran  towards  him  and  seated 
herself  beside  him.  He  then  allowed  the  tot  to  say  and 
do  just  as  she  pleased  until  finally  exhausted  the  little 
one  fell  into  a  deep  slumber,  thus  affording  the  priest 
and  especially  the  Bishop  a  most  welcome  rest." 

The  Bishop  met  with  many  such  embarrassing  epi- 
sodes while  making  his  episcopal  visits  through  the 
state.  A  priest  relates  that  while  administering  Con- 
firmation in  middle  Tennessee,  the  Bishop  had  to  sleep 
in  a  room  where  he  could  almost  touch  the  ceiling  with 
his  head.  The  room  was  so  hot  in  the  midst  of  summer 
that  during  the  day  he  could  scarcely  wear  his  eccle- 
siastical garments.  "I  was  once  heartily  amused,"  said 
the  priest,  "especially  when  I  saw  no  possibility  of 
averting  the  annoyance  (the  mother  being  present), 
when  little  unkempt  country  boys  and  girls  jumped  on 
his  knees,  toyed  with  his  hat  and  watch  chain,  searched 
his  pockets,  and  abruptly  asked  him  for  a  nickel." 

Fifteen  years  of  his  life  Bishop  Feehan  thus  devoted 
to  the  diocese  of  Nashville  reviving  the  fruits  of  the 


54         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

labors  of  his  predecessors,  destroyed  by  the  ravages  of 
war.  The  scattered  remnants  of  the  once  prosperous 
communities  he  again  organized  and  put  to  service  in 
the  cause  of  the  Church.  His  episcopacy  witnessed  the 
greatest  triumphs,  but  at  the  same  time  the  deepest  sor- 
rows of  the  diocese,  and  Bishop  Feehan  accomplished 
what  to  others  would  seem  impossible.  A  reviving  and 
strengthening  spirit  was  enthused  into  the  churches  and 
religious  institutions  in  the  diocese,  and  dignity  and 
prestige  given  to  Catholicity  throughout  the  whole  state. 

The  cause  of  education  was  especially  dear  to  the 
heart  of  the  Bishop :  he  invited  the  Fathers  of  the  Pre- 
cious Blood  to  North  Nashville,  Lawrenceburg  and 
Loretto;  the  Fathers  of  the  Seraphic  Order  of  St. 
Francis  he  established  for  the  German  element  in  Mem- 
phis; and  he  built  St.  Joseph's  Church  there  for  the 
Italians;  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  were  introduced  in  Nash- 
ville, and  the  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd  founded  in 
Memphis,  where  also  was  established  a  very  efficient 
school,  in  charge  of  the  Brothers  of  the  Christian  schools. 
The  Sisters  of  Charity  of  Nazareth  were  also  introduced 
into  the  diocese,  and  new  Churches  were  built  in  Nash- 
ville, McEwens,  Clarksville,  Gallatin,  Jackson,  Coving- 
ton,  Greeneville,  Knoxville  and  Memphis. 

But  alas!  another  picture  rises  before  the  mind  of 
those  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  Church  during 
that  time,  and  one,  too,  which  years  will  not  efface.  It 
was  when  the  dark  angel  of  death  hovered  over  the  fair 
cities  of  the  South;  when  every  breeze  wafted  the  yel- 
low plague  from  the  swamps  of  the  lowlands,  and  Mem- 
phis and  her  sister  towns  were  little  less  than  living 
sepulchres.  In  two  different  visitations  of  the  plague 
(1878-9)  the  death  rate  in  Memphis  was  appalling;  and 
in  those  hours  that  tried  men's  souls,  Bishop  Feehan 
was  never  known  to  falter. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC 

EXTENT  OF  THE  PLAGUE — EVERY  WORSHIPER  AT  CHURCH  IN 
MOURNING — IN  MEMPHIS  TWENTY  NUNS  AND  FIVE  PRIESTS 
DIE — THE  DOMINICAN  FATHERS — THE  FEVER  OF  1878 — ACTS 
OF  HEROISM  OF  BISHOP  AND  PRIESTS — NAMES  OF  PRIEST 
HEROES — TRYING  POSITION  OF  BISHOP  FEEHAN — HE  PREACHES 
THE  FUNERAL  ORATION  OF  TWELVE  OF  HIS  PRIESTS. 

THE  yellow  fever  epidemic  visited  the  diocese  of 
Nashville  three  times  in  rapid  succession.  The  fever  of 
1873,  was  preceded  by  a  virulent  outbreak  of  cholera 
and  spread  death  and  desolation  in  every  quarter  along 
the  Mississippi.  The  priests  attached  to  St.  Bridget's 
Church  in  the  city  of  Memphis  had  each  an  average  of 
one  hundred  sick-calls  a  day;  of  these  90  per  cent  fell 
victims  during  the  first  month  or  six  weeks.  The  fever 
plague  lasted  during  the  months  of  September,  October, 
and  ended  about  the  20th  of  November;  during  these 
three  months  some  sixteen  hundred  people,  of  whom 
at  least  one  thousand  were  Catholics,  fell  victims.  The 
disease  lasted  generally  from  two  to  four  days  and  the 
third  one  was  the  dark  or  dreaded  day.  Making  al- 
lowance for  a  moderate  aperient,  in  all  cases,  the  less 
medicine,  the  better  hope  for  the  patient.  The  brave 
priests  stood  at  their  posts  until  stricken  down,  and  as 
to  Bishop  Feehan,  his  undisturbed  patience,  uncom- 
promising firmness,  and  his  sweetness  and  gentleness  in 
commanding,  have  deservedly  won  for  him  the  title  of 
"Captain  of  the  Memphis  Martyrs." 

As  already  stated,  the  number  of  those  who  died 
throughout  the  various  parts  of  the  city  of  Memphis, 
during  the  autumn  months  of  '73,  might  be  estimated 

55 


56         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

at  about  sixteen  hundred.  The  pastor  of  St.  Bridget's 
Church,  Rev.  M.  Walsh,  had  a  "framed"  list  hung  up 
in  his  Church,  giving  the  names  of  eight  hundred  of  his 
parishioners  who  had  died  in  less  than  three  months. 
Almost  as  many  more,  whose  names  could  not  be  pro- 
cured, also  died  in  this  parish.  On  the  first  Sunday 
after  the  fever  was  pronounced  no  longer  epidemic,  the 
people  who  flocked  to  hear  Mass  at  St.  Bridget's  Church 
presented  a  sorry  spectacle.  It  was  noted  the  following 
morning  in  the  daily  papers,  that  '.here  was  not  a  man, 
woman,  or  child  in  the  Church  that  was  not  dressed  in 
mourning.  During  the  autumn  of  this  never-to-be-for- 
gotten year,  Memphis  lost  some  of  its  best  and  most 
respected  citizens.  Besides  some  twenty  nuns  (amongst 
whom  was  the  Mother  Superioress  of  the  Franciscan 
Convent),  five  priests — Fathers  O'Brien,  Gary,  Daily 
and  Sheehy,  of  the  Order  of  St.  Dominic,  and  Father 
Leo,  a  German,  of  the  Franciscan  Order — fell  victims ; 
it  appeared  providential  that  no  secular  priest  of  the 
diocese  (although  equally  exposed)  contracted  or  died 
of  fever  in  1873. 

The  Provincial  of  the  Dominicans  especially  felt  the 
loss  of  such  young  and  promising  men  keenly,  but  since 
the  Order  had  a  house  in  Memphis,  he  considered  it  his 
duty  to  fill  all  vacancies.  Now  at  the  time  there  was 

a   venerable    ex-Dominican    priest,    Father    J.    , 

residing  in  Nashville,  with  a  long  white  beard  and  in 
appearance  a  veritable  patriarch,  who  already  had 
reached  in  years  the  scriptural  term,  threescore-and-ten. 
The  story  is  told  that  after  the  death  of  Fathers  Gary 
and  O'Brien,  the  Dominican  Provincial  wrote  to  this 
old  gentleman,  asking  him  if  he  would  not  be  willing 
to  leave  Nashville  and  go  to  Memphis.  The  old  man, 
having  gleaned  the  contents  of  this  ominous  missive, 


THE   YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC  57 

with  tear-fraught  eyes  handed  the  letter  to  Bishop  Fee- 
han.  The  good  Bishop,  the  soul  of  kindness  himself, 
naturally  smiled  at  what  seemed  rather  a  joke  than  a 
serious  request.  The  old  priest,  being  very  deaf,  leaned 
over  to  hear  the  Bishop  confirm  his  death  warrant.  In 
his  loudest  effort  the  Bishop  said:  "Don't  mind  it, 

Father  J.  ."  "Must  I  go?"  asked  the  deaf  man. 

"No,  remain  with  me  for  the  present,"  was  the  kind 
reply.  The  story  goes  on  to  say  that  the  Bishop  wrote 
to  the  Provincial,  and  intimated  that,  unless  he  could 
find  some  younger  and  more  useful  priest,  he  would  be 
obliged  to  provide  one  himself.  Accordingly  the  Pro- 
vincial sent  a  request  for  help  to  Louisville,  where  there 
was  a  branch  house  of  the  Order.  The  Prior  of  this 
convent  did  not  wish  to  command  or  rather  pass  sen- 
tence of  sure  and  speedy  death  on  any  of  his  brother 
priests,  so  he  suggested  that  all  should  draw  lots. 

If  our  Lord  himself  was  agonized  at  the  approach  of 
death,  we  may  naturally  suppose  that  it  was  with  trem- 
ulous hands,  each  slowly  drew  the  straw  which  was  to 
decide  his  mortal  destiny.  But  when  all  had  drawn — 
who  held  the  fatal  straw?  Was  it  a  young  and  vigorous 
man,  or  some  enfeebled  veteran?  It  was  the  oldest 
priest  in  the  community.  In  a  moment  this  patriarch 
made  up  his  mind  to  face  the  battle.  But  he  was  mis- 
taken if  he  supposed  for  a  moment  that  he  would  be 
allowed  to  go,  for  from  the  ranks  of  the  young  priests 
there  stepped  forward  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  with 
as  true  a  heart  as  ever  beat  within  a  martyr's  breast, 
Father  J.  D.  Sheehy,  O.  P.  He  took  the  train  for 
Memphis  that  very  evening  and  only  a  few  days  later 
the  good  priest  was  dead. 

Alban  Butler,  in  his  lives  of  the  Saints,  relates  many 
touching  and  edifying  examples  of  the  faith  and  Chris- 


58 

tian  heroism  of  the  martyrs  of  the  primitive  Church, 
but  these  self-sacrificing  priests  deserve  to  be  classified 
among  the  foremost  martyr  heroes  of  heaven. 

Only  a  few  months  had  elapsed  since  the  fever  of 
'73,  when  the  people  began  to  take  courage.  Trade, 
commerce,  and  labor  seemed  to  have  regained  their  for- 
mer prestige.  The  clamorous  noise  of  the  foundry;  the 
hissing  and  boom  of  the  cotton  press ;  the  shrill  or  hoarse 
scream  of  the  locomotive  or  steamboat  showed  the  coun- 
try was  alive  once  more  to  business  of  every  depart- 
ment. Towards  the  spring  of  '78,  Tennessee  was  not 
merely  convalescent,  but  appeared  almost  entirely  re- 
cuperated from  her  disasters.  But  Providence,  it  seems, 
had  not  yet  laid  aside  the  "chastening  rod."  At  the 
very  time  when  the  people  began  to  regard  "Fever"  as 
a  specter  of  the  past,  it  stalked  forth  once  more  a  dread 
reality.  And  if  the  fever  of  '73  has  been  called  a  plague, 
that  of  '78  was  a  veritable  scourge.  Father  Wm. 
Walsh,  in  his  pamphlet  of  '78,  writing  for  aid  to  the 
various  temperance  unions  of  America,  describes  the 
conditions  of  affairs:  "Out  of  a  population  of  45,000 
or  50,000  inhabitants,  35,000  or  40,000  fled  for  their 
lives  when  the  plague  broke  out ;  of  the  8,000  or  10,000 
who  remained,  over  7,000  are  reported  as  having  been 
stricken  down  by  the  fever.  The  county  undertaker, 
Mr.  John  Walsh,  has  a  registry  of  2,500  burials  by 
himself  alone.  .  ." 

The  fever  took  hold  during  the  latter  part  of  July, 
and  was  actually  raging  towards  the  middle  of  August, 
yet  the  Board  of  Health  was  loath  to  admit  and  the 
papers  of  the  city  of  Memphis  failed  to  announce  the 
presence  of  the  yellow  fever.  Deaths  to  the  number  of 
958,  according  to  the  "Memphis  Appeal"  of  August, 
'78,  had  already  occurred  within  the  city  limits  before 


THE   YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC  59 

the  Board  of  Health  officially  announced  the  fever  epi- 
demic. "I  well  remember  the  panic,"  says  Father  Quinn 
in  his  "Heroes  and  Heroines  of  Memphis"  "that 
almost  crazed  the  populace  the  morning  it  was  an- 
nounced in  the  papers.  Men,  women,  and  children,  in 
wagons,  street  cars  and  carriages,  all  dashing  through 
the  streets  on  their  way  to  the  various  railways  depots 
and  steamboat  landings.  In  the  short  space  of  three 
days  not  less  than  thirty  thousand  people  fled  from  the 
city  of  Memphis.  .  ." 

On  the  other  hand,  on  the  very  evening  of  the  day 
that  the  papers  announced  the  yellow  fever  epidemic 
in  Memphis,  every  secular  priest  who  could  find  con- 
veyance to  Nashville  arrived  there,  and  with  the  gran- 
deur and  heroism  of  martyrs  entering  the  arena  to  be 
devoured  by  wild  beasts,  offered  themselves  unreservedly 
to  the  Bishop  to  be  sent  at  his  pleasure  to  the  plague 
stricken  city  of  Memphis.  How  such  an  act  touched  the 
Bishop's  heart,  God  only  knows.  He  never  could  con- 
trol his  feelings  to  speak  of  it.  A  priest,  one  of  the 
survivors,  speaking  of  that  scene  afterward  said,  "It 
was  something  never  to  be  forgotten."  The  tender- 
hearted shepherd  whom  they  knew  to  have  for  each  a 
father's  solicitude,  yet  was  ready  to  offer  to  God  all 
that  he  held  dearest  on  earth.  It  truly  was  a  scene  the 
angels  might  envy,  to  see  those  priests  soon  to  win  the 
palm  of  martyrdom  and  the  crown  of  unfading  glory, 
offer  themselves  to  their  beloved  Bishop.  Father  Quinn 
was  not  among  them  then.  He  was  on  a  mission  in 
Arkansas,  but  like  the  others  he  hastened  to  the  scene 
of  danger  and  was  found  in  the  foremost  ranks. 

The  Association  Press  and  the  daily  newspapers  of 
the  country  failed  to  mention  many  of  the  names  of 
these  heroes  and  heroines  of  Tennessee.  But  the  living 


60 

and  dead  who  suffered,  and  above  all  the  good  God, 
cannot  have  ignored  their  countless  sacrifices.  When, 
for  instance,  Father  Martin  Walsh  and  his  cousin, 
Father  Meagher,  died  at  St.  Bridget's  Rectory,  only 
three  persons  beside  the  undertaker  attended  the  fu- 
neral of  these  beloved  and  popular  priests.  Father 
Aloysius  Wiever,  O.  S.  F.,  who  died  in  California, 
was  the  priest  whom  Father  Quinn  in  his  book  designates 
as  the  tireless  hero  of  Memphis.  Like  the  Very  Rev. 
A.  J.  Kelly,  O.  P.,  he  was  in  every  cholera  and  yellow 
fever  plague  that  infested  the  city. 

When  the  fever  of  '78  broke  out  in  Memphis,  there 
were  five  Catholic  Churches:  St.  Patrick's,  Very  Rev. 
M.  Riordan,  V.  G.,  pastor;  St.  Peter's,  Very  Rev.  A. 
Bokel,  O.  P.,  pastor ;  St.  Bridget's,  Rev.  Martin  Walsh, 
pastor;  St.  Mary's  (German),  Rev.  Father  Lucius,  O. 
S.  F.,  pastor;  St.  Joseph's  (Italian),  Rev.  A.  Luiselli, 
pastor.  All  the  priests  in  Memphis  died  of  fever  in 
1878,  except  Rev.  William  Walsh,  and  Rev.  Aloysius 
Wiever,  O.  S.  F.,  who  was  assistant  to  Father  Lucius, 
O.  S.  F. 

Father  William  Walsh  attended  the  sick-calls  in  the 
city  from  Father  Matthews'  camp  which  he  had  erected 
from  tents  sent  him  by  the  Secretary  of  War  from 
Washington.  By  this  means  some  four  hundred  people 
were  saved  from  the  ravages  of  the  fever.  From  various 
cities  throughout  the  Union,  Father  Walsh  received 
more  than  $40,000  to  aid  the  yellow  fever  sufferers  in 
Memphis. 

The  following  are  facts  taken  from  Keating's  history 
describing  the  three  epidemics  of  yellow  fever  in  1873, 
1878  and  1879.  Memphis  lost  10,000  of  her  citizens; 
the  office  of  the  "Memphis  Appeal"  lost  21  members  of 
its  staff;  the  daily  "Avalanche"  lost  its  editor  and  busi- 


THE  YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC  61 

ness  manager  with  15  of  its  staff;  the  "Evening  Daily 
Ledger,"  although  25  of  its  members  were  stricken 
down,  lost  but  4  of  its  staff;  of  the  Police  Department 
27  out  of  a  total  of  48  men  were  attacked,  of  whom  10 
died  and  17  convalesced.  Amongst  the  dead  was  also 
Chief  Phil.  R.  Athy  of  the  Fire  Department  and  24 
of  the  men  died,  including  Captain  John  McFadden, 
a  brother  of  Canon  McFadden  of  Gweedore,  County 
Donegal,  Ireland.  Forty  physicians  and  4  Protestant 
ministers  died  in  that  year,  1878. 

Besides  some  50  Sisters,  the  diocese  of  Nashville 
lost  22  priests,  of  whom  21  died  in  Memphis  in  less 
than  five  years.  Of  these,  8  were  seculars,  8  Dominicans, 
and  5  Franciscan  Fathers.  The  following  list  gives 
the  names,  date  of  death,  and  age  of  each: 

Name                                           Died  Aged 

1.  Rev.  J.  R.  Daily,  O.  P Sept.  23, 1873  27 

2.  Rev.  R.  V.  Gary,  O.  P Oct.    7,  1873  40 

3.  Rev.  D.  A.  O'Brien,  O.  P.    .    .    .  Oct.    9,  1873  42 

4.  Rev.  J.  D.  Sheehy,  O.  P.     .     .     .  Oct.  17,  1873  43 

5.  Rev.  Father  Leo,  O.  S.  F.     .     .     .  Oct.  17,  1873  45 

6.  Rev.  Martin  Walsh Aug.  29,  1878  40 

7.  Rev.  J.  A.  Bokel,  0.  P Aug.  29,  1878  29 

8.  Rev.  J.  A.  McGarvey,  O.  P.     .     .  Aug.  29,  1878  33 

9.  Rev.  Michael  Meagher   ....  Aug.  30,  1878  46 

10.  Rev.  Father  Erasmus,  0.  S.  F.     .  Aug.  31,  1878  42 

11.  Rev.  Patrick  McNamara     .     .     .  Sept.   3, 1878  28 

12.  Rev.  V.  P.  Maternus,  O.  S.  F.     .  Sept.    9, 1878  35 

13.  Very  Rev.  Martin  Riordan,  V.  G.  Sept.  17, 1878  46 

14.  Rev.  P.  J.  Scanlon,  O.  P    .     .     .  Sept.  19, 1878  30 

15.  Rev.  V.  B.  Vantroostenberg    .     .  Sept.  19, 1878  35 

16.  Rev.  J.  J.  Mooney Sept.  27, 1878  46 

17.  Rev.  German  Father,  O.  S.  F. 

(Asimus) 1878 

18.  Rev.  Edward  Doyle Sept.   4, 1879        46 

19.  Rev.  John  Fahey Sept.   6, 1879        29 


62         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Name  Died          Aged 

20.  Rev.  V.  G.  Chrysostom  Reinke, 

O.  S.  F Sept.   9, 1879        39 

21.  Rev.  D.  E.  Reville,  O.  P.    .    .    .  1879        39 

22.  Rev.  Patrick  Ryan  (Chattanooga)  1878        38 

To  these  may  be  added  the  Rev.  John  Walsh,  who 
died  of  smallpox  February  19,  1882,  at  the  age  twenty- 
eight.  The  youngest  of  these  priests  was  but  twenty- 
seven,  and  the  oldest  fifty  years  of  age.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  fever  they  all  appeared  to  be  robust  and  remark- 
ably healthy  men.  In  the  "New  York  Freeman's  Jour- 
nal" of  '78,  it  was  mentioned  that  of  all  the  priests  who 
died  in  Memphis,  there  was  but  one  who  possessed 
more  than  five  dollars  at  the  time  of  death.  It  is  a  fact 
known  to  the  Catholics  of  Memphis  that  these  priests 
neither  made  nor  had  occasion  to  make  a  "will."  In 
fact,  these  men  did  not  leave  "means"  sufficient  to 
liquidate  the  moderate  dry  goods  and  grocery  bills  that 
were  presented  to  their  successors  for  payment. 

Three  priests,  who  had  been  stricken  with  yellow 
fever  in  Memphis,  later  recovered.  One  of  these 
was  Very  Rev.  A.  J.  Kelly,  O.  P.,  who  was  ad- 
ministrator of  the  Nashville  diocese  before  the  advent 
of  Bishop  Feehan;  he  was  a  man  of  sterling  piety,  a 
loving  true  friend,  charitable  and  kind  to  all,  and  a 
fearless  warrior  in  the  midst  of  danger.  Father  Kelly's 
name  will  never  be  forgotten  in  Memphis  or  in  Nash- 
ville. Rev.  Patrick  O'Brien,  whose  house  was  besieged 
by  city  officials  in  Jackson,  Tenn.,  because  he  received 
John  Walsh  who  died  there  of  smallpox,  came  some 
years  later  to  Chicago  and  was  made  pastor  of  Mount 
Carmel  Church.  Rev.  Wm.  Walsh  of  international 
fame  for  bravery  during  the  epidemics  of  1878  and 
1879  in  Memphis,  died  in  1902. 


THE   YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC  63 

"The  fearful  calamities  that  threatened  the  very 
existence  of  the  diocese  of  Nashville,"  continues  Father 
Quinn,  "called  into  action  the  highest  qualities  of 
the  governor  and  spiritual  guide,  Bishop  Feehan.  Cir- 
cumstances placed  life  and  death  in  his  hands.  Had  he 
succumbed  to  the  fever,  it  is  more  than  probable  there 
would  not  be  a  priest  living  today  to  relate  the  sad  tale 
of  Memphis'  woe.  It  is  a  terrible  responsibility  to  have 
to  order  any  man  to  certain  and  speedy  death;  even  the 
stern  judge  falters  in  his  speech,  as  he  pronounces  the 
last  sentence  of  the  law  on  the  guilty  culprit.  If  this 
good  Bishop,  instead  of  the  warm,  tender  nature  which 
God  bestowed  upon  him,  had  had  a  heart  of  adamant, 
he  could  not  have  helped  being  moved  in  this  fateful 
discharge  of  duty.  In  his  unflinching  charity  towards 
the  Catholic  laity  of  Memphis,  he  had  to  bury  in  his 
soul  the  sweetest  names  known  to  man — friendship, 
patriotism,  kinship,  and  old  school  companionship.  The 
dignity  of  his  position,  and  the  absolute  wants  of  his 
dying  flock,  precluded  any  display  of  sympathy  but 
called  only  for  duty.  I  shall  never  forget  that  event- 
ful morning  when  Archbishop  P.  A.  Feehan  came  out 
on  St.  Bridget's  altar,  Memphis,  to  preach  the  funeral 
oration  of  twelve  of  his  priests  who  had  died  during  the 
autumn  of  '78.  Perhaps  a  similar  event  has  not  oc- 
curred within  the  last  century  in  Europe  or  America." 

With  inspiring  verse  the  noble  deeds  of  valiant  war- 
riors have  ever  been  framed  in  a  blaze  of  radiant  beauty. 
Historians  and  poets  have  wreathed  with  laurels  of  un- 
dying fame  the  brows  of  bold  patriots  whose  dauntless 
spirits  winged  their  way  aloft  midst  the  roar  of  cannon 
and  the  shrieks  of  shell  and  shot  of  the  smoke-laden 
battlefields  of  countless  lands.  In  swelling  unison,  the 
voices  of  untold  millions  have  chanted  the  strophes  of 


64         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

the  bards,  flooding  the  world  with  the  sweet  strains  which 
proclaimed  man's  gratitude  and  love  for  the  defenders 
of  hearth  and  home  and  those  gallant  bands  whom  the 
poets'  genius  and  admiration  have  enshrined  in  immortal 
honor  and  renown;  yet  the  courage  of  martyred  priests 
and  nuns — those  unsung  heroes  of  Holy  Church — has 
no  parallel  in  tradition,  not  in  all  the  annals  of  those 
heroic  military  deeds  which,  like  the  stars  that  led  the 
ancient  mariners  in  their  course,  have  inspired  and 
emphasized  the  struggling  progress  of  the  human  race 
towards  a  higher  material  destiny. 

See  that  huge  hulk  with  the  flag  of  death  flying  at 
its  mast  head!  That  is  the  emigrant  ship  loaded  down 
with  wretched  human  freight.  It  struggled  for  many 
days  through  the  billows  of  the  sea.  Devoted  fathers, 
mothers,  and  their  darling  little  children  have  left  the 
ancient  fatherland  to  seek  freedom  and  bread  upon  the 
hospitable  shores  of  America.  The  cruel  avarice  of  man 
has  crowded  them  all  into  this  pestilential  hulk.  Starva- 
tion and  neglect  have  brought  on  the  deadly  fever,  and 
now  it  rages  like  a  ravenous  wild  beast  devouring  the 
flesh  of  its  victims. 

The  anchor  is  cast;  the  long  wished  for  shores  of 
America  are  reached  and  balmy  breezes  bring  on  their 
wings  the  odors  of  flowers  and  of  the  green  earth.  But 
the  inexorable  laws  of  the  quarantine  close  the  gates 
of  this  earthly  paradise  against  the  poor  sufferers.  All 
the  world  sees  that  dreadful  flag  and  all  the  world 
stands  aloof,  not  daring  to  face  death  under  such  appal- 
ling form.  The  heroic  priest,  however,  the  devoted 
Sister  of  Charity  and  Mercy,  they  are  there  to  minister 
to  the  plague  stricken.  Night  hath  succeeded  day  and 
yet  ever  faithful  to  their  vows  these  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  Church  are  there  to  catch  the  last  sigh  of  the  dy- 
ing child  of  God. 


THE   YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMIC  65 

And  now  they  inhale  the  subtle  poison,  it  flies  through 
their  veins.  The  pale  cheek  and  dim  eye  proclaim  to 
men  and  angels  that  the  mission  of  some  of  them  has 
been  accomplished  and  that  they  are  about  to  receive 
the  diadem  of  glory  prepared  by  the  Eternal  Father 
for  His  martyrs  to  Charity.  What  tongue  can  utter 
the  eulogium  of  such  devotion! 

"Dream  not  helm  and  harness 

The  sign  of  valor  true; 
Peace  hath  higher  tests  of  manhood 
Than  battle  ever  knew." — The  Hero,  by  Whittier. 


CHAPTER  VII 
THE  BISHOP  LEAVES  NASHVILLE 

CHICAGO  MADE  AN  ARCHBISHOPRIC — BISHOP  FEEHAN  APPOINTED 
ARCHBISHOP — HIS  FAREWELL — A  COMMITTEE  WAITS  ON  HIM 
— THEIR  SPEECHES — A  PURSE  IS  PRESENTED  TO  HIM — THE 
BISHOP'S  LOVE  FOR  THE  SOUTH — THE  ADDRESS  OF  THE  CLERGY 
ON  THE  TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  HIS  ORDINATION — 
A  LETTER  FROM  FATHER  GLEESON — BISHOP  IFEEHAN  AND  THE 
CATHOLIC  KNIGHTS  OF  AMERICA. 

IN  addition  to  the  irreparable  shock  which  cholera  and 
yellow  fever  epidemics  had  imparted  to  the  physical  and 
financial  prosperity  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  the  prog- 
ress of  Catholicity,  after  the  panic  had  subsided,  was 
destined  to  receive  another  crushing  stroke,  for  orders 
came  from  Rome  enjoining  the  Right  Rev.  P.  A.  Fee- 
han  to  leave  his  charge  in  Nashville,  and  assume  the 
more  exalted  dignity,  the  Archiepiscopate  of  Chi- 
cago. 

After  the  death  of  Bishop  Foley,  the  diocese  of  Chi- 
cago, by  a  decree  of  the  Holy  See,  dated  September 
10,  1880,  was  elevated  to  the  rank  of  Archdiocese,  and 
Bishop  Feehan  of  Nashville  was  appointed  its  first 
Archbishop.  A  letter  of  congratulation  from  Cardinal 
Simeoni,  dated  September  30,  1880,  accompanied  the 
papal  Bull.1  When  the  news  of  Archbishop  Feehan's 
elevation  reached  Chicago,  there  was  a  universal  expres- 
sion of  satisfaction  among  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the 
new  Metropolitan  See,  and  though  all  mourned  the 
death  of  good  Bishop  Foley,  they  rejoiced  at  seeing  one 
chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy  who  was  no  stranger  to  the 
clergy,  many  of  whom  knew  him  personally  when  he 

i  Cf.  Appendix  No.  3-4-6-6. 

66 


THE   BISHOP   LEAVES   NASHVILLE  67 

lived  in  St.  Louis,  and  all  were  filled  with  admiration 
at  his  successful  administration  of  the  Diocese  of  Nash- 
ville. His  deeds  of  heroism  during  the  plagues,  and  his 
eminent  services  in  behalf  of  the  orphans  caused  his 
name  to  be  known  throughout  the  country  and  earned 
for  him  the  esteem  of  all  civilized  people.  The  Catholics 
especially  rejoiced  at  having  Archbishop  Feehan  come 
to  govern  them,  as  he  was  an  honor  to  the  Church  in 
America,  and  adorned  the  episcopacy  by  his  learning, 
experience,  piety  and  zeal. 

Nashville,  on  the  other  hand,  was  greatly  shocked 
and  depressed.  "The  Cathedral  was  never  before  so 
crowded," — thus  reads  an  article  of  a  Nashville  paper 
at  the  time,  "as  it  was  Sunday  morning.  Every  seat, 
every  nook  and  corner  was  occupied ;  the  vestibule,  and 
even  the  aisles  were  filled.  Archbishop  Feehan  was  to 
take  his  final  leave  of  the  congregations  in  Nash- 
ville." 

After  delivering  an  eloquent  sermon  on  the  subject, 
"Man's  Duty  to  God  and  His  Neighbor,"  the  Arch- 
bishop said  that  it  was  not  his  wish  or  desire  to  leave 
Nashville,  which  had  so  many  sweet  memories  hovering 
around,  for  Nashville  had  been  his  home  in  the  full 
acceptance  of  the  word,  but  higher  authority  had  said 
that  he  should  go  to  Chicago,  and  he  would  go  to  that 
city  and  do  everything  in  his  power  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  the  Church.  During  the  fifteen  years  he  had 
resided  in  Nashville,  no  word  of  censure  or  of  unkind- 
ness  had  passed  between  him  and  the  clergy,  but  they 
had  always  acted  in  the  utmost  harmony,  and  the  work 
of  the  Church  had  been  carried  on  with  great  unanimity 
of  action.  To  the  gentlemen  who  had  assisted  him  in 
all  the  enterprises  in  the  Church  he  desired  to  return 
most  grateful  thanks,  and  he  desired  to  thank  the  ladies 


68         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

especially  for  the  satisfactory  and  efficient  labors  they 
had  performed  in  behalf  of  the  orphans.  They  should 
never  forget  the  orphans  and  should  continue  the  good 
work  they  had  performed  in  the  past. 

Archbishop  Feehan  was  about  to  say  more,  but  he 
became  so  deeply  affected  that  he  could  not  utter  an- 
other word.  There  were  many  tearful  eyes  in  the  au- 
dience. The  next  night  a  large  number  of  prominent 
Catholics  visited  the  residence  of  the  Archbishop,  ar- 
riving there  about  eight  o'clock.  As  the  visit  and  its 
object  had  been  kept  an  entire  secret  from  him,  he  was, 
of  course,  taken  completely  by  surprise.  But,  though 
greatly  embarrassed,  he  received  the  party  with  his 
usual  courtesy  and  cordiality.  When  all  had  shaken 
hands  with  the  Archbishop,  Hon.  M.  T.  Bryan  stepped 
forward  and  delivered  the  following  address : 

"Most  Reverend  Archbishop,  we  have  come,  in  be- 
half of  the  Catholics  of  this  city,  to  pay  our  respects 
on  the  eve  of  your  departure  from  amongst  us  and  to 
express  our  sincere  esteem  for  you,  personally,  and  our 
high  appreciation  of  your  arduous  and  successful  labors 
as  our  faithful  shepherd. 

"Fifteen  years  ago  you  were  installed  'Bishop  of 
Nashville.'  Your  diocese — the  State  of  Tennessee,  which 
had  been  for  years  little  better  than  a  battlefield — was 
in  great  confusion  and  disorder,  consequent  upon  the 
war  which  had  just  closed.  Fraternal  relations  had  not 
yet  been  restored,  and,  though  peace  had  been  declared, 
prejudices,  political  and  sectional,  still  obtained,  and 
the  social  fabric  was  greatly  disturbed.  And  to  add  to 
the  difficulties  and  perplexities  of  the  situation  that 
environed  you,  the  diocese  was  heavily  in  debt.  Under 
these  discouraging  circumstances  you  entered  upon  your 
high  office,  and  while  studiously  avoiding  all  demonstra- 


THE   BISHOP   LEAVES   NASHVILLE  69 

tion  and  public  notice,  you  have  quietly,  patiently,  and 
industriously  pursued  the  good  work,  until  today  you 
have  the  proud  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  Providence 
has  blessed  your  labors  and  that  the  diocese  is  in  a 
healthy  and  prosperous  condition  and  is  practically  out 
of  debt. 

"We  recognize  that  tnis  is  not  the  occasion  nor  this 
the  place  to  enter  into  detail  of  your  labors  for  the  past 
fifteen  years,  but  we  trust  we  may  be  permitted  to  refer 
to  the  part  you  have  taken  in  promoting  the  cause  of 
education.  The  many  flourishing  schools  and  academies 
established  by  you,  or  fostered  by  your  paternal  care, 
in  Nashville  and  in  other  parts  of  the  diocese,  amply 
demonstrate  how  successful  have  been  your  efforts  in 
this  great  cause.  But,  above  all,  we  must  not  fail  to 
speak  of  that  really  great  and  good  work  that  has  been 
always  so  dear  to  you  and  in  the  promotion  of  which 
you  have  always  taken  so  conspicuous  a  part,  we  refer 

»to  the  care  of  the  orphan  children.     These  little  chil- 
* 

dren,  deprived  of  their  natural  guardians,  homeless  and 
helpless,  have  found  in  you  indeed  a  father  and  a  friend. 
Your  efforts  in  this  cause,  nobly  seconded  as  they  have 
been  by  a  generous  public,  claim  our  highest  admira- 
tion and  gratitude. 

"Permit  us  also  to  refer  to  the  purchase  by  Your 
Grace,  a  few  years  since,  of  beautiful  grounds  for  a  new 
cemetery,  outside  of  the  city,  away  from  the  noise  and 
busy  haunts  of  men.  Mt.  Calvary  is  today  one  of  the 
features  of  Christian  civilization  in  this  community  and 
an  evidence  of  the  Church's  care  for  her  dead.  As  that 
quiet  city  of  the  dead  becomes  peopled  and  the  practiced 
hand  of  the  artisan  and  the  tender  and  loving  care  of 
friends  of  the  departed  adorn  and  beautify  it,  it  will 
remind  us  and  our  children  of  your  wisdom  and  charity, 


70         THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

and  will  serve  to  bind  us  more  closely  to  you  in  the 
union  of  divine  faith. 

"In  brief,  we  would  epitomize  your  labors  by  saying: 
Religion  had  in  you  a  watchful  and  prayerful  prelate, 
who  taught  us  not  only  by  precept,  but  by  example  as 
well;  education  an  earnest  and  zealous  promoter,  the 
orphan  a  faithful  friend  and  the  community  a  distin- 
guished and  honored  citizen;  and  we  may  add  that  in 
your  own  person  you  have  shown  even  to  our  separated 
brethren  that  while  the  Church  is  firm  and  uncompro- 
mising concerning  the  truths  of  Faith,  she  is  gentle  and 
charitable  to  all  men  without  distinction. 

"Most  Rev.  Archbishop,  deeply  sensible  as  we  are 
of  the  personal  loss,  we  each  and  all  of  us  will  sustain 
by  your  departure  from  amongst  us,  we  are  not,  we 
hope,  so  selfish  as  to  desire  it  to  be  otherwise  than  as 
it  is,  since  we  have  abiding  faith  not  only  in  the  wis- 
dom, but  also  in  the  divine  guidance  of  the  government 
of  the  Church.  Wherefore  we  feel  that  this  should  be 
an  occasion  of  joy  rather  than  sorrow.  Indeed,  we  can- 
not disguise  from  ourselves  the  personal  compliment  we 
felt  when  the  electric  telegraph  flashed  across  the  waters 
from  the  Eternal  City  the  intelligence  that  the  Holy 
Father  had  raised  OUR  Bishop  to  a  new  and  greater 
dignity.  We  all  felt  that  you  were  worthy  of  the  great 
honor,  and  were  glad,  although  our  joy  was  over- 
shadowed by  the  reflection  that  you  would  be  OURS  no 
longer. 

"Though  you  go  from  amongst  us  honored  and  pro- 
moted by  the  Church  you  have  so  long  and  faithfully 
served,  we  indulge  the  hope  that  we  shall  not  be  entirely 
forgotten  by  you;  and  we  beg  to  assure  Your  Grace 
that  you  carry  with  you  the  respect  of  all  classes  and 
creeds,  and  the  affectionate  esteem  of  your  own  congre- 


THE   BISHOP   LEAVES  NASHVILLE  71 

gation  in  this  city,  who  wish  you  length  of  days  and 
great  usefulness  in  God's  Holy  Cause." 

M.  T.  BRYAN, 
M.  J.  C.  WRENNE, 
J.  G.  OSBORN, 

D.  N.  NEYLAN, 

M.  J.  O'SHAUGHNESSY, 

M.  BURNS, 
JOHN  P.  DALE, 
M.  SMITH, 

Committee  on  Address. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Bryan's  remarks,  M.  Burns, 
Esq.,  stepped  forward  and  said:  "Most  Rev.  Bishop  of 
the  diocese  of  Nashville  and  Archbishop  of  Chicago:  I 
have  the  honor  of  having  been  selected  by  your  friends 
and  children  in  the  faith  to  present  you  with  this  small 
testimonial  of  their  love  and  esteem  for  you  as  a  gen- 
tleman and  their  faithful  instructor  for  several  years, 
as  Bishop  and  friend.  As  you  are  about  to  leave  our 
midst,  through  the  election  and  appointment  of  a  supe- 
rior authority,  for  a  more  exalted  position  than  that 
occupied  by  you  here,  we  yield  our  wishes  as  faithful 
Catholics  and  submit  to  those  whom  God  has  put  in 
authority  over  us. 

"Rev.  Bishop,  I  trust  you  will  pardon  me  in  saying  a 
few  words  in  reference  to  your  sojourn  among  us.  I 
remember  when  you  took  charge  of  this  diocese,  and 
know  well  the  complications  and  entanglements  you 
had  to  adjust,  and  well  do  I  know  with  what  nerve  and 
financial  sagacity  you  extricated  the  diocese  from  its 
embarrassments.  No  man  in  our  community  has  a  more 
solid  credit  than  you  have.  Your  word  is  your  bond, 


72         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

and  is  so  regarded  in  commercial  circles.  You  came  to 
us  a  stranger  but  we  soon  found  we  had  a  gentleman 
and  a  scholar,  and,  withal,  a  faithful  and  humble  servant 
of  God,  who  never  failed  in  times  of  pestilence  to  attend 
at  the  bedside  of  the  stricken  sufferer.  But  why  dilate 
on  this  subject?  Your  gentle  and  kind  disposition 
towards  suffering  humanity  is  the  theme  of  our  com- 
munity, regardless  of  creed  or  nationality.  In  your 
farewell  address,  Sunday,  you  bequeathed  to  your  flock, 
as  did  your  Divine  Master,  the  care  of  the  orphans  and 
the  schools  you  so  diligently  watched  over  during  your 
administration  of  this  diocese.  I,  as  one  of  your  flock, 
and  in  behalf  of  the  congregation  to  which  I  belong, 
promise  to  do  our  best  to  carry  out  your  request,  and 
that  others  in  the  diocese  will  do  the  same  I  have  no 
doubt.  Trusting  that  your  future  flock  will  hold  you 
in  the  same  high  esteem  that  we  do,  we  beg  you  to 
accept  this  testimonial  of  our  appreciation  of  you  as  a 
gentleman,  and  your  inestimable  labors  in  our  behalf." 

Mr.  Burns  then  presented  the  Archbishop  with  a  well 
filled  silken  purse. 

The  Archbishop  said  he  hardly  knew  what  to  say  to 
them,  for  the  visit  was  a  great  surprise  to  him.  He 
found  around  him  the  representatives  of  the  whole  con- 
gregation of  Nashville.  He  saw  there  many  of  the 
faces  that  met  his  view  when  he  came  to  Nashville,  fif- 
teen years  ago.  To  Mr.  Burns  and  to  all  those  present 
he  could  hardly  find  any  words  that  could  tell  them  how 
he  felt.  His  object  and  wish  was  to  live  and  die  here, 
but  when  the  highest  authority  in  the  Church  bade  him 
go  elsewhere  he  willingly  and  dutifully  obeyed  its  com- 
mand. He  would  never  cease  to  have  a  regard,  a  love 
for  Nashville;  from  the  very  moment  he  stepped  into 
Nashville  everyone  had  seemed  to  become  his  friend. 


THE   BISHOP   LEAVES   NASHVILLE  73 

He  felt  thankful  and  grateful  now,  at  his  time  of  life, 
to  find  the  honest  testimony  of  sincere  friends.  He  had 
endeavored  to  labor  faithfully  and  sincerely,  not  only 
for  the  missions,  schools  and  the  orphan  asylum,  but  for 
the  entire  Catholic  people.  He  had  never  found  a  com- 
munity more  respectable  in  every  sense  than  that  found 
in  Nashville:  he  would  go  away  with  a  feeling  of  mu- 
tual respect  and  with  a  heart  full  of  appreciation  of  his 
sojourn  here.  He  thanked  them  for  the  kind  words  that 
had  been  spoken.  He  confessed  that  it  would  be  a 
trial  to  him  to  go  to  a  big  city,  among  strangers,  from 
a  city  in  which  he  had  found  none  but  friends,  and  who 
had  showered  kindness  and  affection  so  bountifully 
upon  him.  He  would  always  remember  Nashville.  He 
had  loved  all  the  little  children  and  had  felt  so  deep 
an  interest  in  them  and  the  affairs  of  the  Church  that 
his  labors  had  been  light.  No  matter  how  long  or  short 
his  life  would  be,  he  would  try  often  to  visit  Nashville, 
at  least  to  come  here  once  a  year,  and  would  always 
remember  its  people  in  his  prayers;  he  would  often 
turn  his  face  from  the  Far  North  to  the  Sunny  South,  so 
full  of  pleasant  memories,  and  look  back  again  and 
again  into  the  faces  of  those  he  loved.  But  he  could  not 
express  all  he  desired  to  say.  He  wished  that  Nash- 
ville would  continue  to  grow  in  importance  and  pros- 
perity; that  its  people  would  grow  in  good  fortune  and 
happiness.  He  had  never  seen  any  unkindness  here; 
the  non-Catholic  people  had  been  his  friends,  and  the 
friends  to  the  orphans  as  well  as  those  in  the  Church. 
He  would  go  away  from  scenes  he  had  learned  to  love. 
He  was  thankful  to  Mr.  Burns  for  the  expression  of 
his  kind  regard.  It  came  from  the  next  to  the  oldest 
Catholic  in  Nashville.  If  the  Catholics  of  Nashville 
would  continue  to  promote  the  schools  he  had  established 


74 

and  to  care  for  the  orphans,  they  would  please  him  more 
than  anything  else  in  the  world. 

Before  the  visitors  left,  the  Archbishop  blessed  them 
all,  many  having  requested  a  parting  blessing. 

But  not  only  was  Archbishop  Feehan  dearly  loved 
by  his  people,  his  clergy  was  also  deeply  attached  to 
him.  The  extent  of  their  love  and  devotion  can  best 
be  inferred  from  the  sentiments  expressed  from  the  fol- 
lowing address  delivered  to  His  Grace  by  his  clergy 
on  the  occasion  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his 
ordination  to  the  priesthood: 

Address  of  the  Secular  Clergy  of  Tennessee  to  their 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  on  the  twenty-fifth  Anniversary 
of  his  Ordination. 

"This,  Bishop,  is  our  'Saturnalia,'  and  we  therefore 
claim  what  the  old  Greeks  called  'Parresia,'  or  free- 
dom of  speech,  to  give  you  our  sentiments,  and  you 
must  bear  with  us  for  a  few  moments.  Such  is  the 
penalty  of  putting  on  the  'toga  virilis'  of  the  Priest- 
hood. What  sacerdotal  virtues  were  conspicuous  in 
your  life  during  the  early  days  of  your  ministry  but 
few  of  us  are  acquainted  with,  as  our  relations  to  you 
for  the  most  part  date  from  the  time  you  assumed  the 
ring  and  crozier;  but  we  may  well  conceive  they  were 
those  whose  reflection,  bright  as  silver,  has  shown  on 
our  pathway  under  your  benignant  rule;  a  high  regard 
for  the  feelings  and  interests  of  your  subjects;  a  gentle- 
ness with  us,  even  in  our  perversity,  that  could  only 
come  from  a  cordial  acceptance  of  the  Divine  invitation 
'Discite  a  Me  quia  mitis  sum  et  humilis  corde';  and 
above  all  a  charity  'quae  omnia  suffert,  omnia  sperat, 
omnia  sustinet  .  .  .  et  nunquam  excidit.' 

"We  ask  your  acceptance  of  this  silver  merely  as  the 


THE   BISHOP   LEAVES   NASHVILLE  75 

emblem  of  that  bright  light;  and  the  only  wish  which 
your  priests  can  form  for  you  in  their  hearts  and  in 
their  prayers  is,  that  the  light  may  become  day  after 
day,  and  year  after  year  more  soft  and  mellowed,  in- 
creasing in  intensity  as  we  know  it  will,  until  it  bursts 
out  into  the  golden  sunlight  of  full  maturity  twenty- 
five  years  hence." 

M.  RlORDAN,  L.  LUIZZELLI, 

M.  WALSH,  F.  MAERON, 

M.  MEAGHER,  P.  MCNAMARA, 

P.  RYAN,  W.  WALSH, 

E.  DOYLE,  JOHN  FAHEY, 

J.  VEALE,  B.  MCNALLY, 

P.  GLEESON,  E.  GAZZO. 
R.  SCANNELL, 

Another  appreciation  of  the  work  of  Bishop  Feehan 
in  the  diocese  of  Nashville  is  expressed  in  the  following 
letter  of  Father  Gleeson  to  Bishop  Muldoon: 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  8,  1904. 

St.  Joseph's  Church, 

Right  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  D.  D., 
Bishop  Auxiliary. 

My  dear  Bishop  Muldoon: — In  reply  to  your  favor 
of  the  3d  inst.  I  think  it  should  be  noted  that  when 
Bishop  Feehan  took  charge  of  the  Nashville  diocese, 
the  State  of  Tennessee  was  still  suffering  in  the  most 
marked  degree  from  the  results  of  the  Civil  War.  Nash- 
ville diocese  embraced  the  whole  state,  and  the  state  had 
been  the  theater  of  the  war  during  the  whole  four  years 
of  its  continuance  from  Pittsburg  Landing  or  Shiloh, 
or  more  accurately  from  Fort  Donelson  on  the  Cumber- 
land, where  Grant  gained  his  first  victory,  to  Chatta- 


76         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

nooga  and  Chickamauga.  It  would  be  hard  to  overdraw 
the  pitiable  plight  of  the  comparatively  few  and  poor 
scattered  Catholic  missions  in  consequence  of  the 
demoralization  and  as  Bishop  Feehan  found  things  on 
his  taking  charge  in  1865. 

His  character  might  be  said  to  be  his  only  asset  in 
beginning  his  work  under  such  unpromising  conditions. 
No  one  ever  heard  a  complaint  from  his  lips.  His  pa- 
tience and  humility  and  dignified  personality  soon  won 
for  him  the  love  and  affection  of  his  own  faithful  and 
the  esteem  and  unbounded  confidence  of  all  classes  of 
the  community.  The  same  gentle  self-sacrificing  per- 
sonality soon  drew  around  him  a  band  of  devoted  mis- 
sionary priests  who  proved  their  loyalty  and  devotion 
to  duty  in  the  trying  days  of  the  yellow  fever  epidemic. 
The  Bishop's  strong  point  in  those  days  was  his  care 
for  the  orphans,  the  legacy  of  war  and  epidemics,  and 
his  solicitude  and  sympathy  for  priests  laboring  in  re- 
mote and  poor  missions. 

As  you  say  he  left  no  papers,  but  I  very  gladly  sug- 
gest points  along  those  lines  as  the  best  index  of  his 
work  and  character  in  those  days. 
With  best  wishes, 

Yours  sincerely, 

P.  J.  GLEESON. 

When  we  add  to  the  above  that  in  1866  Bishop  Fee- 
han attended  and  participated  in  the  Second  Plenary 
Council  of  Baltimore,  and  that  he  also  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Ecumenical  Council  of  the  Vatican,  there 
remains  but  one  more  great  work  of  the  Bishop  to  be 
noticed  before  the  reader  will  have  some  adequate  idea 
of  Bishop  Feehan's  activity  in  the  diocese  of  Nashville. 
And  this  is  the  active  part  Bishop  Feehan  took  in  the 


THE   BISHOP   LEAVES   NASHVILLE  77 

organization  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America,  who 
owe  their  origin  to  this  true  man  of  God. 

Some  Nashville  Catholics  asked  the  Bishop's  opinion 
one  time  about  a  society  that  many  were  proposing  to 
organize  in  Nashville  and  other  cities  of  the  South,  and 
the  propriety  of  Catholics  undertaking  to  form  a  so- 
ciety of  the  kind  that  was  contemplated.  The  Bishop, 
after  looking  over  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the 
proposed  society,  which  was  to  be  composed  of  Catholic 
laymen,  said:  "I  most  cordially  approve  your  object. 
You  have  the  material;  go  ahead,  and  I  assure  you 
that  I  will  give  you  all  my  support."  The  Bishop's 
encouragement,  like  seed  cast  into  fertile  ground,  took 
root.  The  society  was  organized ;  it  grew ;  it  flourished ; 
and  now  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  organizations  among  the  Catholic  laity 
in  the  United  States. 

Before  leaving  the  diocese  of  Nashville,  the  Arch- 
bishop recommended  Father  Richard  Scannell  to  the 
Propaganda  as  his  choice  to  act  as  administrator  of  the 
diocese,  sede  vacante.  The  recommendation  was  favor- 
ably acted  upon.  Father  Scannell  recently  died  as 
Bishop  of  Omaha. 

The  Rev.  P.  D.  Gill  had  asked  the  Archbishop  to  be 
allowed  to  accompany  him  to  Chicago,  and  his  request 
was  granted;  he  was  the  priest  whom  the  Archbishop 
sent  to  Rome  for  the  Pallium  and  who  was  appointed 
chancellor  of  the  diocese  upon  his  return.  Two  other 
priests,  Rev.  John  Coughlin  and  Rev.  P.  O'Brien,  soon 
followed  and  became  affiliated  with  the  archdiocese  of 
Chicago.  When  Father  Coughlin  came  to  bid  farewell 
to  Archbishop  Feehan,  the  latter  remarked:  "Father 
John,  I  did  not  think  you  would  part  with  an  old  friend 
for  a  new  one."  He  could  not  resist  the  appeal  made 


78 

by  the  Archbishop.  Accordingly  he  severed  his  con- 
nections with  Nashville  and  became  affiliated  with  the 
Archdiocese  of  Chicago. 

A  few  days  before  the  departure  of  the  Archbishop 
from  Nashville  to  Chicago,  he  sent  his  sister,  Miss  Kate 
Feehan,  and  Miss  B.  Cavanaugh  to  Chicago  to  prepare 
the  residence  which  Bishop  Foley  had  occupied  on  Ohio 
Street.  Miss  Cavanaugh  had  been  the  Archbishop's 
housekeeper  in  St.  Louis  and  Nashville  for  twenty 
years  and  continued  to  serve  him  until  his  death ;  and  it 
is  of  record  how  substantially  the  Archbishop  remem- 
bered in  his  will  the  faithful  service  and  devotion  to 
duty  of  this  most  estimable  lady. 


THE  EIGHT  KEY.  JOHN  McMULLEN,  D.  D. 

Administrator  of  the  Chicago  Diocese 

First   Vicar   General   of   Archbishop   Feehan 

Died   July  4,   1883. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

HIS  COMING  TO  CHICAGO  IN  1880 

HIS  ENTHUSIASTIC  RECEPTION — HIS  INVESTITURE — READING  OF 
PAPAL  BULL — THE  SERMON  BY  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN — FUR- 
THER DETAILS  OF  THE  CELEBRATION. 

NOVEMBER  the  25th  was  the  day  assigned  for  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Archbishop  in  Chicago,  and  it  was  the  occa- 
sion of  a  great  demonstration  of  popular  enthusiasm 
and  manifestation  of  hearty  welcome  to  him.  Commit- 
tees of  the  clergy  and  deputations  of  the  laity  met  him 
on  his  approach  to  the  Archiepiscopal  See,  and  extended 
such  cordial  greetings  that  he  was  deeply  touched  by 
their  loyalty  and  respect.  Thousands  of  Catholics  of 
the  many  nationalities  that  go  to  make  the  Church  so 
cosmopolitan  in  Chicago  received  him  with  manifesta- 
tions of  the  deepest  reverence  and  affection,  and  lined 
the  streets  of  the  city  from  the  depot  to  the  Archi- 
episcopal residence.  On  November  28th,  the  installa- 
tion of  the  new  Archbishop  took  place  in  the  Cathedral 
of  the  Holy  Name  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  con- 
gregation.1 

The  investiture  of  the  Most  Rev.  Patrick  A.  Feehan 
as  the  first  Archbishop  of  the  great  Metropolitan  See 
of  Chicago  stands  out  more  conspicuously  for  its  tran- 
scending importance  than  any  event  ever  recorded  in 
the  history  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  West.  Ac- 
companied by  the  ecclesiastical  pomp  and  splendor  with 
which  it  is  the  time-honored  custom  of  the  Church  to 
dignify  the  installation  to  office  so  elevated,  the  cere- 

iThe  Bull,  dated  September  21,  1880,  signed  by  Cardinal  Mertel, 
raised  Chicago  to  an  archdiocese  and  announced  the  separation  of 
LaSalle,  Bureau,  Putnam,  Henry  and  Rock  Island  counties  "on  account 
of  distance  and  the  less  number  of  Catholics  in  the  Peoria  Diocese,  the 
spiritual  needs  of  those  counties  might  be  the  more  easily  attended  to." 
See  Document  No.  6. 

79 


80         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

monies  were  remarkably  impressive,  both  for  the  impos- 
ing solemnity  which  the  grand  ritual  of  the  Church 
lends  to  her  important  functions  and  the  immense  con- 
course of  humanity  which  had  flocked  to  the  holy 
edifice  to  do  honor  by  their  presence  to  the  great  church- 
man upon  the  occasion  of  the  most  significant  event 
of  his  life.  Not  only  was  this  memorable  occasion  the 
concrete  expression  of  wonderful  performances  accom- 
plished in  other  fields  of  exalted  Christian  endeavor,  but 
it  shone  out  as  a  brilliant  harbinger  of  the  glorious 
work  which  the  future  held  in  store  for  the  masterful 
mind,  holy  inspirations,  and  pre-eminent  executive 
power  of  this  great  and  humble  servant  of  God. 

Shortly  after  10  o'clock  the  ecclesiastical  procession, 
which  had  formed  in  the  sacristy  of  the  cathedral, 
threaded  its  way  out  by  the  Superior  Street  door  and 
was  received  at  the  main  entrance  on  North  State  Street 
by  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  McMullen,  who,  as  administrator 
since  the  death  of  Bishop  Foley,  officially  delivered  the 
Cathedral  and  the  Diocese  to  the  Archbishop.  After 
the  choir  chanted  the  "Te  Deum  Laudamus,"  the  pro- 
cession moved  up  the  main  aisle  in  the  following  order : 

Crucifer 

Acolytes  with  incense  and  holy  water. 
The  Administrator,  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  McMullen. 
Deacons  of  Honor :  Rev.  Richard  Scannell  of  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  and  the  Rev.  John  Waldron. 

The  Archbishop. 
The  Clergy  of  the  Archdiocese. 

When  the  procession  had  reached  the  altar  the  Arch- 
bishop was  escorted  to  the  throne  and  the  Very  Rev. 
Dr.  McMullen  ascending  to  the  epistle  side  of  the  altar, 
read  the  versicles  prescribed  for  the  reception  of  a 


HIS   COMING   TO    CHICAGO   IN   1880  81 

Bishop,  for  which  the  clergy  made  responses;  then  fol- 
lowed the  impressive  prayer  imploring  the  blessing  of 
God  upon  the  Archbishop. 

The  papal  brief  appointing  the  Bishop  of  Nashville 
to  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago  was  read  by  Rev.  D. 
J.  Riordan,  Chancellor.  The  brief  declared  substan- 
tially that  the  See  of  Chicago  being  vacant,  the  Holy 
Father,  in  seeking  a  prelate  to  whom  so  important  a 
trust  could  be  committed,  had  reposed  this  great  con- 
fidence in  one  whose  superb  and  faithful  stewardship 
in  another  and  less  responsible  sphere  of  operation  had 
placed  him  in  the  foremost  ranks  of  churchmen,  and 
had  won  for  him  the  respect,  admiration,  and  love  of 
his  brother  clergymen,  co-religionists  and  fellow  coun- 
trymen. When  the  reading  of  the  papal  Bull  was  con- 
cluded, the  clergy  advanced  to  the  Archbishop's  throne 
and  kneeling,  reverently  kissed  the  episcopal  ring,  a 
form  symbolic  of  the  fealty  which  the  clergy  of  a  diocese 
owe  to  its  governing  head. 

Solemn  Pontifical  Mass  was  begun  by  the  Right  Rev. 
Joseph  Dwenger,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Fort  Wayne;  as- 
sistant priest,  Very  Rev.  Dr.  McMullen;  deacon,  Rev. 
P.  W.  Riordan;  sub-deacon,  Rev.  T.  J.  Butler,  R.  D. 
After  the  Gospel  Archbishop  Feehan  ascended  the  pul- 
pit and  read  as  his  text  the  following  versicles : 

"Another  parable  He  proposed  unto  them,  saying: 
The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a  grain  iof  mustard 
seed,  which  a  man  took  and  sowed  in  his  field;  which 
is  the  least  indeed  of  all  seeds :  but  when  it  is  grown 
up,  it  is  greater  than  all  herbs,  and  becometh  a  tree, 
so  that  the  birds  of  the  air  come,  and  dwell  in  the 
branches  thereof."— (Matt,  xiii,  31-32.) 

The  sermon  preached  by  Archbishop  Feehan  on  this 
occasion : 

"The  explanation  of  the  parable  is  very  simple.   The 


82         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

kingdom  of  heaven  is  the  gospel  of  the  new  law,  and 
the  grain  of  mustard,  one  of  the  smallest  seeds,  which 
grows  to  be  a  large  tree,  represents  the  Christian  faith, 
commencing  at  Jerusalem  with  faithful  disciples,  and 
spreading  thence  throughout  the  whole  world. 

"  'And  the  birds  of  the  air  shall  dwell  in  the  branches 
thereof.'  So  the  nations  at  all  times,  in  all  places,  come 
to  find  rest  and  peace  in  its  life-giving  truth.  The  seed 
was  planted  in  the  world  by  Jesus  Christ. 

"The  parable  is  a  prophecy,  and  its  accomplishment 
is  the  most  astonishing  fact  in  the  history  of  the  human 
race,  and  the  most  striking  proof  of  the  divinity  of  Our 
Lord.  When  our  Savior  spoke  those  memorable  words 
the  entire  world,  except  the  Jews,  were  idolators,  and 
thus  paganism  had  in  its  favor  everything  calculated 
to  preserve  and  to  perpetuate  it.  It  was  woven  into  the 
habits  of  the  people,  sustained  by  antiquity  and  the  laws 
of  nations:  the  eloquence  of  orators  and  the  genius  of 
poetry,  the  very  games  and  pleasures  of  the  people,  all 
were  summoned  to  its  aid  and  tended  to  preserve  it ;  and, 
beside,  it  was  a  most  pleasing  form  of  religion,  for  it 
not  only  flattered,  but  deified  the  worst  passions  of 
human  nature. 

"It  was  into  a  world  such  as  this,  and  to  preach  a  reli- 
gion opposed  to  this  in  every  respect,  that  Christ  Our 
Lord  sent  His  Apostles,  saying  to  them:  'Go  and 
teach,  and  ye  shall  be  witnesses  of  Me  to  the  farthest 
ends  of  the  earth.' 

"A  few  unknown  men,  distinguished  only  by  their 
obscurity,  were  to  change  the  ideas,  and  the  religion, 
and  the  manners  of  the  world.  How  impossible  it 
seemed!  And  if  they  succeeded  in  this  work,  how  as- 
tonishing ! 

"They  succeeded,  and  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of 


HIS   COMING  TO    CHICAGO   IN   1880  83 

time  the  Christian  religion  was  known  and  accepted, 
not  only  through  the  vast  territory  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire, but  far  beyond  its  limits,  where  the  name  of  'Ro- 
man' was  never  heard,  and  where  the  standard  of  Rome 
was  never  planted.  And  that  this  was  a  fact  before  the 
conversion  of  Constantine  is  proved  by  the  most  un- 
questionable testimony,  pagan  as  well  as  Christian. 

"Upon  natural  grounds  alone  the  fact  can  never  be 
explained  how  this  religion  in  its  very  infancy  struggling 
with  vice  and  error,  at  the  same  time  teaching  the  purest 
morality,  and  amid  the  grossest  corruption,  contending 
with  the  sophistry  of  the  schools  as  well  as  the  ignorance 
of  the  multitude,  by  persuasion  alone  converting  the 
nations,  both  barbarous  and  civilized,  opposed,  abused, 
misrepresented,  persecuted,  should,  after  three  centuries 
of  trials  and  victories,  have  at  last  sat  triumphant  on 
the  throne  of  the  Csesars. 

"In  whatever  aspect  we  view  our  religion  in  the  begin- 
ning, whether  in  the  persons  of  those  who  preached  it 
or  the  doctrines  which  they  announced,  or  the  time  or 
the  age  which  they  came  to  teach,  there  was  nothing  in 
its  favor,  and  everything,  humanly  speaking,  was  op- 
posed to  it. 

"Christ  our  Lord  did  not  choose  His  disciples  from 
the  senate,  or  the  Areopagus,  or  from  the  schools,  or 
from  the  lyceum,  or  from  the  princes :  He  did  not  select 
men  of  distinguished  birth,  or  reputation,  or  great 
knowledge  of  worldly  affairs;  nor  did  He  choose  men 
whose  very  names  would  throw  a  halo  around  the  doc- 
trines which  they  taught,  or  whom  men  would  be  proud 
to  acknowledge  as  their  masters;  but  He  went  among 
the  poor,  and  He  chose  humble  men,  sinful,  unlearned 
men,  men  unskilled  in  the  affairs  of  the  world,  without 
wealth,  without  power,  or  riches,  or  prestige,  or  any 


84         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

of  the  means  which  would  ordinarily  be  deemed  essen- 
tial to  success. 

"We  must  remember  that  we  see  the  Apostles  through 
the  distance  of  the  centuries.  We  behold  them  sur- 
rounded with  the  glory  of  the  works  they  accomplished. 
But  it  was  not  thus  that  they  appeared  to  the  people 
to  whom  they  first  went  to  teach.  These  saw  them  as 
strangers,  from  a  country  and  from  a  people  whom  they 
despised.  Imagine  for  a  moment,  brethren,  imagine 
Peter,  the  Chief  and  Prince  of  them  all,  a  fisherman 
from  Galilee,  who  had  just  his  barque  and  his  nets,  an 
unlettered  man,  one  who  in  a  moment  of  weakness,  had 
even  denied  his  Master — imagine  him  alone,  friendless, 
helpless  amid  the  schools  and  the  temples  and  the  pal- 
aces of  ancient  Rome,  and  remember  that  it  was  Rome 
in  the  day  of  its  splendor.  It  was  that  Rome  from 
which  went  out  great  highways  on  which  matchless 
legions  marched,  along  which  were  brought  back  the 
spoils  and  the  captives  of  the  nations  to  grace  the 
triumphs  of  their  capital :  imagine  a  poor  man  from  Gali- 
lee, a  fisherman,  Peter,  the  Prince  of  the  Apostles  of 
Jesus  Christ;  imagine  him  amidst  the  splendor  of  the 
Roman  capital;  and  yet  a  grand  idea  fills  the  soul  of 
this  man.  We  can  picture  him  looking  out  over  the 
great  city  from  some  one  of  those  seven  hills  of  Rome 
and  thinking  or  saying  to  himself:  'Here  we  may  preach 
the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  this  gorgeous  pagan  city 
will  become  its  very  citadel.' 

"If  some  man  who  was  not  inspired  by  the  wisdom 
of  the  Word  could  have  read  the  thought  of  the  Apostle, 
if  he  could  have  heard  him  utter  such  a  thought  as  this 
I  have  said,  he  would  have  cried  out:  'This  man  is 
come  from  an  eastern  land,  a  land  of  dreamers,  and  he 
is  only  an  enthusiast.'  And  Peter  begins  to  teach  and 


HIS   COMING   TO    CHICAGO   IN   1880  85 

the  people  begin  to  gather  around  him,  and  he  makes 
converts  and  their  number  increases;  and  ultimately, 
Rome  became  a  Christian  city  and  the  center  of  that 
vast  spiritual  kingdom  that  has  no  limits  save  those  of 
the  world.  And  the  work  begun  by  Peter  has  been  con- 
tinued by  his  successors,  and  even  the  glory  of  the 
Cassars  has  paled  before  the  grander,  purer  economy 
of  the  successors  of  the  fisherman. 

"We,  brethren,  who  have  been  born  or  educated  in  a 
society  already  Christian,  who  have  been  accustomed 
from  childhood  to  the  influences  of  its  teachings,  who 
know  that  it  has  received  the  homage  of  the  nations  for 
eighteen  hundred  years,  can  scarcely  realize  how  won- 
derful it  must  have  seemed  to  the  Apostles.  St.  Paul 
says  it  was  a  'stumbling  block.'  It  was  the  'scandal 
of  the  Jews  and  the  folly  of  the  Gentiles/  for  the  Jews 
expected  a  Messiah,  powerful,  magnificent;  and  yet 
these  strange  men  came  to  tell  them  that  they  must 
adore  Him  Whom  the  chief  men  of  their  nation  had 
crucified.  The  religion  of  the  pagan  world  was  sensual, 
captivating,  indulgent.  It  was  the  religion  of  their 
fathers,  of  their  country,  of  their  childhood,  of  their 
great  men,  of  their  kings  and  emperors,  and  to  them 
there  came  strangers  from  a  land  that  they  despised, 
and  they  said  to  those  pagans  that  they  also  must  adore 
Him  Whom  the  Jews  had  crucified;  that  they  must 
accept  a  religion,  the  very  basis  of  which  is  self-denial 
and  self-sacrifice,  and  for  the  truth  of  which  they  might 
at  any  moment  have  to  sacrifice  the  precious  things  of 
life,  or  to  sacrifice  even  life  itself. 

"The  human  mind  naturally  revolts  against  accepting 
such  a  religion  under  such  circumstances.  To  become 
humble,  to  become  charitable,  so  as  to  learn  to  love  and 
to  pray  for  their  enemies,  to  prefer  even  poverty  to  in- 


86         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

justice,  to  restrain  even  the  least  sinful  thoughts  of  the 
human  soul, — these  were  virtues  that  the  best  of  the 
ancient  never  knew,  that  they  never  dreamed  of  teach- 
ing to  the  people,  and  yet  they  became  the  fundamental 
and  familiar  virtues  of  Christian  and  Catholic  faith,  and 
they  were  everywhere  found  in  practice,  and  never  were 
there  grander  children  of  the  Cross  and  of  the  faith 
than  those  pagans,  before  whom  the  Apostles  of  Christ 
lifted  up  the  image  of  the  crucified  Savior. 

"The  religion  triumphed,  and  its  triumph  was  greater 
than  would  have  been  that  of  Alexander  of  whom  we 
read,  even  if  he  had  conquered  the  world,  because  the 
most  wonderful  accomplishment  is  to  subdue  the  human 
heart;  it  conquered  also  pride  and  sensualism,  which 
were  then,  as  they  are  now,  its  greatest  foes. 

"When  the  Apostles  went  to  teach,  eighteen  hundred 
years  ago,  it  was  the  most  splendid  undertaking  the 
world  ever  knew.  The  arts  and  sciences  and  literature 
all  flourished,  and  they  were  all  employed  against  the 
truth.  It  would  have  been  easier  at  that  day  to  have 
converted  to  the  faith  of  Christ  even  the  savages  than 
those  proud,  civilized  Greeks  and  Romans,  because  the 
pride  of  a  sophist  is  a  greater  obstacle  to  truth  than  the 
simplicity  of  an  ignorant  man,  and  when  to  the  pride 
of  intellect  there  is  added  the  corruption  of  the  heart, 
then  were  met  the  greatest  impediments  to  the  accept- 
ance of  a  religion  that  demands  the  submission  of  the 
human  reason  to  the  mysteries  of  the  divine  faith,  and 
that  will  not  tolerate  the  indulgence  of  any  one  of  the 
disorderly  passions  of  human  nature. 

"We  may  ask  ourselves  what  is  the  religion  that  has 
conquered  the  world  and  has  triumphed  over  time 
and  space?  It  is  that  grain  of  mustard-seed  mentioned 
in  the  parable  of  the  gospel,  that  gospel  of  the  New 


HIS   COMING   TO   CHICAGO   IN   1880  87 

Law,  the  revelation  of  God  to  man,  the  manifestation 
of  His  will  to  us.  St.  Paul  tells  us  that  it  is  the  living 
and  efficacious  word  of  God;  the  living  word  of  God, 
because  it  is  life  to  the  soul  that  receives  it;  and  the 
efficacious  word  of  God  because  it  has  conquered  idola- 
try and  established  itself  amid  the  ruins  of  the  ancient 
world.  It  has  survived  all  the  changing  things  of  earth, 
the  ravages  of  time,  the  storms  of  human  passion,  the 
revolution  of  human  affairs,  and  denounced  from  one 
generation  to  another,  it  is  received  with  love,  with 
reverence  for  eighteen  hundred  years.  It  explains  to 
everyone  who  listens  to  it  the  great  truths  that  human 
reason  would  never  have  discovered,  that  the  great 
schools  of  the  ancient  world  never  dreamed  of  teach- 
ing. 

"It  is  the  religion  that  tells  us  plainly  of  God,  of  His 
nature,  of  His  attributes,  of  man,  of  his  origin,  of  his 
destiny;  that  solves  for  us  the  mysteries  and  problems 
of  the  human  soul.  It  has  elevated  man,  given  him  a 
new  life,  taught  him  his  true  position,  given  him  a  grand 
elevation.  It  unveils  and  exposes  to  his  wondering  gaze 
the  mysteries  and  glories  of  the  supernatural  world,  of 
the  life  of  faith.  It  tells  us  of  a  great  promise,  of  a 
God  made  man,  of  a  self-sacrifice — the  atonement — of 
heaven  purchased  for  all,  of  hell  vanquished,  of  the  way 
that  leads  to  final  happiness  and  rest,  and  of  an  object 
to  be  attained  that  will  satisfy  the  utmost  yearning  of 
the  human  soul.  It  has  conquered  time  and  triumphed 
over  space.  It  found  the  world  dead,  truth  entombed, 
shrouded  in  the  darkness  of  the  ages;  but  as  when  the 
voice  spoke  beside  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  and  he  that 
was  dead  came  forth,  living,  and  confessing  the  presence 
and  the  power  of  God,  so  the  word  of  God  penetrated 
through  the  world,  and  the  nations  awoke  to  life,  and 


88 

the  winding  sheet  was  cast  aside  and  the  animating 
spirit  of  God  passed  from  one  extremity  of  the  earth  to 
the  other.  It  penetrated  the  very  depths  of  the  human 
heart,  and  it  brought  humility  and  purity  and  charity 
where  vice  and  pride  and  selfishness  had  held  supreme 
sway. 

"And  for  us,  brethren,  as  we  hear  and  receive  it,  after 
eighteen  hundred  years,  how  great  and  how  profound 
should  be  our  reverence  and  our  gratitude  to  God  that 
it  is  to  our  religion  we  are  indebted  for  every  blessing, 
social  and  religious,  that  we  enjoy.  If  for  a  moment 
you  can  imagine  such  a  thing  possible,  if  religion  were 
destroyed,  if  religion  were  to  disappear  by  some  ca- 
lamity from  the  world,  the  world  would  return  again 
into  barbarism.  Society  would  be  dissolved  into  its 
very  elements.  The  most  sacred  of  ties  would  be  torn 
asunder.  The  human  heart  would  become  corrupt  even 
to  its  very  core,  and  the  soul  would  become  as  dark  as 
it  was  when  men  worshiped  the  most  degraded  objects. 

"When  we  think  over  that  wonderful  history  of  our 
faith,  that  faith  that  is  stronger  than  death,  and  that 
has  conquered  the  world ;  when  we  think  of  the  mystery 
of  the  parable — the  little  grain  of  mustard-seed  rising 
up  to  be  a  tree,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  coming  to  dwell 
in  its  branches,  and  so,  from  the  humble  beginnings 
and  the  weak  things  God  selected,  has  risen  up  this 
wonderful  and  supernatural  tree  of  life,  which  is  the 
Catholic  Church,  that  gathers  around  itself  the  nations, 
and  where  they  find  rest  and  peace  for  their  souls  and 
the  knowledge  of  the  joy  and  the  happiness  that  awaits 
them  beyond  this  world. 

"And  we  may  be  permitted,  also,  to  apply  the  parable 
in  a  more  limited  sense;  to  make  an  application  of  the 
parable  even  to  particular  places  and  countries;  and 


HIS   COMING   TO   CHICAGO   IN   1880  89 

where,  my  dear  brethren,  where  can  you  find  a  more 
striking  illustration  of  the  grain  of  mustard-seed  grow- 
ing to  be  a  mighty  tree  than  in  this  great,  broad  land, 
here  in  which  we  live,  and  in  which  we  dwell?  If  we 
look  back  for  a  generation  or  two — for  ever  so  little  a 
time — how  wonderful  has  been  the  growth  of  the  grain 
of  mustard-seed  in  the  great  Northwest  of  America! 
Two  hundred  years  ago,  a  great  missionary  priest, 
an  illustrious  son  of  the  great  order  of  St.  Ignatius, 
Father  Marquette,  traversed  alone  the  western  wilds. 
A  man  highly  cultured,  educated  and  civilized,  he  turned 
his  back  forever  upon  the  home  of  his  childhood  in  sunny 
Gaul;  he  left  the  companions  of  his  youth,  and  of  his 
studies,  and  alone  penetrated  into  the  wilderness  because 
he  bore  on  his  soul  the  commission  that  comes  to  those 
whom  God  sends  to  teach,  and  he  bore  upon  his  lips 
that  message  of  truth  that  God  would  have  us  bear  to 
every  nation;  and  he  went  not  to  the  highly  civilized, 
but  he  went  out  alone  into  the  wilderness  and  to  the 
sons  of  the  desert  to  teach  them  the  truths  of  Chris- 
tian faith.  And  he  navigated  the  great  lakes  and  sailed 
down  the  great  river,  sailing  into  the  South;  and  he 
lifted  before  the  savage  men  of  this  region  the  symbol 
of  man's  salvation;  and  they  learned  to  know  God,  to 
pray  to  Him ;  and  the  savages  received  the  word  of  God 
in  their  wigwams,  and  they  learned  the  great  truths 
of  the  Christian  religion.  And,  alas !  when  he  went  down 
to  them  he  was  a  strong  man,  but  he  returned  again 
worn  out  with  his  labors,  a  young  man  prematurely  old, 
and  at  last  he  lay  down  to  die  by  the  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

"And  again,  if  some  man,  guided  by  the  spirit  of  the 
world,  would  have  looked  upon  the  great  missionary, 
Father  Marquette,  dying  by  the  lake  shore,  alone  in  the 


90         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

desert,  worn  out  by  his  labors  among  the  savages,  would 
he  not  have  said:  'He  is  only  a  son  of  a  fervid  race, 
and  behold,  he  is  only  one  of  those  enthusiasts  of  the 
world.  It  is  a  great,  but  it  is  a  wasted,  life.  That  man 
lying  in  the  solitude  of  the  desert  has  left  nothing  in  the 
world  behind  him.'  But  it  was  not  so.  He  planted  in 
the  wilderness  a  seed  of  most  effectual  power,  and  it 
remained  there  as  if  to  grow  up  in  after  years — to  fruc- 
tify and  to  rise  up  in  a  splendid  way  in  after  years,  so 
that  the  grain  became  a  tree,  and  the  birds  of  the  air 
dwelt  within  its  branches.  For  at  length  he  rests  from 
his  labors,  and  white  men,  following  in  the  pathway 
which  the  missionary  pointed  out  for  them,  navigate  the 
great  lakes  and  sail  over  the  great  rivers,  and  come  in 
after  ages ;  and  they  pitch  their  tents  in  the  forests  and 
in  the  broad  prairies ;  and  villages  which  form  the  towns 
and  cities  of  today  spring  up ;  and  everywhere  over  the 
great  broad  land  there  rose  up  that  symbol  of  man's 
salvation  that  Father  Marquette  had  held  before  the 
astonished  eyes  of  the  sons  of  the  desert;  the  temples 
of  faith  and  the  schools  in  which  it  was  taught  and  the 
birds  of  the  air — that  is,  the  sons  of  many  nations,  some 
born  there  and  some  from  beyond  the  seas,  and  some 
from  the  isles  of  the  ocean, — they  came  and  knelt  down 
before  the  symbol,  and  then  man  felt  in  his  heart  and 
said  with  his  lips:  'I  believe  in  the  Holy  Catholic 
Church.' 

"And  again,  where  can  we  find  a  more  fitting  illustra- 
tion of  the  grain  of  mustard-seed  that  has  grown  to  be 
a  great  tree  than  here  in  the  very  place  in  which  he 
died.  The  men  are  living  today  who  saw  the  little  vil- 
lage from  which  the  great  city  of  today  has  sprung.  A 
venerable  priest  is  living  in  St.  Louis  who  built  his  lit- 
tle church  around  which  a  few  scattered  brothers  of  the 


HIS   COMING   TO   CHICAGO   IN   1880  91 

faithful  to  Christ  gathered  in  what  is  now  the  greatest 
city  of  the  Northwest.  It  has  risen  up.  Thousands  have 
come.  They  have  built  up  the  broad  land  and  they  have 
settled  the  great  city,  and  already  there  are  the  temples 
of  the  faith,  grand,  impressing  and  numerous.  Already 
there  is  the  life  and  the  strength  and  the  vigor  of  a 
great  church,  that  is  manifested  by  its  works  of  faith 
and  charity.  Already  within  the  lifetime  of  some  of 
you,  you  have  the  great  schools  and  many  of  them,  where 
the  little  children  are  gathered  in  to  learn  the  precepts 
and  practices  of  the  holy  faith.  Already  you  have  the 
hospitals  and  the  asylums  for  the  sick  and  the  orphans, 
and  all  these  grand  works  rising  up  so  suddenly,  show- 
ing the  fructifying  spirit  of  God;  we  can  see  that  the 
grain  of  mustard-seed  which  the  great  missionary 
planted  here,  two  hundred  years  ago — for  I  have  read 
that  Father  Marquette  said  Mass  in  the  very  place 
where  the  great  city  is  built  by  the  lake,  a  little  over  two 
hundred  years  ago — I  say  we  can  see  that  the  grain  of 
mustard-seed  has  grown  into  a  great  tree.  And  hence 
it  is  that  one  of  the  successors  of  Peter,  of  that  fisher- 
man who  conquered  imperial  Rome  eighteen  centuries 
ago — one  of  his  successors,  Leo  XIII,  one  who  grandly 
fills  the  papal  chair,  the  supreme  Pontiff  and  Pastor 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  looking  upon  that  vast  dominion 
that  has  been  entrusted  to  him  and  seeing  the  western 
land,  that  which  has  given  to  him  and  to  his  great  pred- 
ecessor so  much  consolation,  where  faith  is  so  young 
and  so  strong  and  so  vigorous,  and  where  people  are 
united  with  their  pastors,  and  pastors  with  their  Bishop, 
and  all  gathered,  as  it  were,  around  that  historic  chair 
of  Peter,  which  is  the  center  of  all  truth  and  teaching 
to  us,  the  Supreme  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  God,  look- 
ing out  upon  that  vast  world  entrusted  to  him,  and  see- 


92         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

ing  in  the  Northwest  this  wonderful  city  rising  up  before 
him  like  some  splendid  dream  of  the  imagination,  and 
appreciating  its  greatness,  would  confer  upon  it  the 
highest  honor  he  could  give  it,  and  he  has  placed  it  so 
as  to  rank  among  the  great  metropolitan  churches  of 
the  world.  He  has  made  it  the  center  and  the  chief 
place,  the  Archiepiscopal  See;  and,  brethren,  he  has 
sent  me,  the  least  of  my  brethren,  to  this  vast  charge. 

"If  I  felt  for  a  while  awed  by  its  magnitude,  if  I  felt 
a  dread  of  the  vast  responsibility,  in  the  sight  of  God, 
I  feel  today  encouraged,  finding  myself  in  the  midst  of 
my  spiritual  children,  and  surrounded,  as  I  am,  by  their 
devoted  pastors,  and  feeling  that  there  is  everywhere 
around  me  in  this  great  city — the  living  spirit  of  Cath- 
olic faith — that  its  works  are  manifest;  that,  too,  all  its 
pastors  and  people  are  laboring  zealously,  I  feel  en- 
couraged to  look  forward  to  a  future  beyond  our  time. 
Though  the  promise  of  today  is  so  grand,  nevertheless 
remember  that  we  are  only  planting  the  seed,  and  when 
this  seed  of  today  grows  up  to  be  more  vigorous  and 
stronger,  how  much  greater  and  grander  will  be  the 
future  which  your  children's  children  will  see. 

"Today,  the  beginning  of  the  holy  Advent  time,  will 
we  not,  brethren,  pray  together,  and  let  the  one  prayer 
ascend  to  God  through  the  intercession  of  His  Blessed 
Virgin  Mother  that  God  would  bless  us  all,  each  one 
in  his  own  place;  that,  as  we  inherit  the  splendid  fruits 
of  those  who  went  before  us,  so  we  may  transmit  a  more 
splendid  inheritance  to  those  who  will  come  after  us? 
Will  we  not  pray  to  God  that  He  will  give  us  a  spirit 
of  wisdom,  that  we  may  be  wise  in  the  things  that  will 
please  Him,  that  God  will  send  His  Holy  Spirit  upon 
His  Church  and  upon  His  people,  to  guide  them,  to 
animate  them,  and  to  strengthen  them  in  the  faith,  and 


HIS   COMING   TO    CHICAGO   IN   1880  93 

to  make  this  great  Church,  what  the  Spirit  of  God  has 
made  everything  that  He  has  breathed  upon,  beautiful 
in  His  holiness  and  in  His  strength?  And  also  will 
we  not  pray,  for  after  all  there  is  an  end  for  every  life, 
no  matter  what  a  man's  possessions  may  be  in  this  world, 
there  is  an  end  for  you  and  for  me,  and  we  will  pray, 
will  we  not,  today,  to  God  to  so  bless  us  and  so  guide 
us  by  His  Holy  Grace,  that  at  last,  when  the  end  comes, 
the  hour  upon  which  all  depends,  that  we  may  be  ready 
for  that  final  judgment  of  God."  Amen. 

Present  in  the  sanctuary  were  the  Most  Rev.  Arch- 
bishop Feehan;  the  Right  Rev.  Joseph  Dwenger,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Fort  Wayne;  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Scannell, 
administrator  of  the  diocese  of  Nashville,  Tenn.;  the 
Very  Rev.  Dr.  McMullen,  V.  G.,  of  the  archdiocese  of 
Chicago;  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Butler,  Dean;  Rev.  Dr. 
W.  Corby,  President-Provincial,  Notre  Dame,  Ind.; 
the  Rev.  Daniel  J.  Riordan,  Chancellor;  Rev.  Patrick 
J.  Conway,  Rev.  P.  M.  Noonan,  Rev.  Patrick  Riordan, 
Rev.  J.  P.  Roles,  Very  Rev.  Arnold  Damen,  S.  J. ;  Rev. 
Charles  Hahn,  Rev.  Switbert  de  Marteau,  O.  S.  B.; 
Rev.  E.  J.  Dunne,  Rev.  S.  T.  A.  Barrett,  Rev.  Father 
Dowling,  Rev.  J.  J.  Delaney,  Rev.  Hugh  McShane, 
Rev.  John  Waldron,  Rev.  M.  Oakley,  S.  J.;  Rev. 
Father  Corbinias,  Rev.  A.  Snigurski,  Rev.  Th.  Burke, 
Rev.  F.  Kalvelage,  Rev.  Father  Nussbaum,  Rev.  E. 
Weber,  Rev.  P.  A.  L.  Egan,  Rev.  W.  Choka,  Rev.  P. 
Corcoran,  Rev.  J.  H.  Grogan,  Rev.  T.  L.  Powers,  O. 
S.  B.,  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Rev.  F.  A.  Keenan,  Amboy, 
111.;  Rev.  Morris  Burke,  Joliet;  Rev.  Father  Marsille, 
St.  Viator's,  Bourbonnais;  Rev.  P.  Nemesius,  Rev. 
Father  Triest,  Rev.  Th.  Mackin,  Rock  Island;  Rev. 
Th.  P.  Hodnet,  Dixon;  Rev.  F.  Schreiber,  Peoria;  Rev. 
Th.  Leydon,  Woodstock;  Rev.  Th.  Essing,  O.  S.  B.; 


94         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Rev.  J.  S.  Hogan,  Lemont;  Rev.  Father  LeSage,  Kan- 
kakee;  Rev.  Jos.  Molitor,  Rev.  E.  Gray,  Peru;  Rev. 
Clement  Venn,  Rev.  Hugh  McGuire,  and  Rev.  Jos. 
Cartan. 

In  the  congregation  were  noticed,  Hon.  Thomas  Mo- 
ran,  Hon.  Thomas  Hoyne,  Hon.  Carter  H.  Harrison, 
and  daughter,  J.  V.  Clarke,  Esq.;  Hon.  W.  S.  Hynes, 
Michael  Keely,  J.  P.  Rend,  Col.  Quirk,  T.  J.  Amberg, 
P.  J.  Towle,  Philip  Conley,  J.  V.  Sullivan,  P.  J.  Sex- 
ton, etc. 

To  secure  a  representation  from  those  prominent  in 
the  laity  of  the  city,  and  embracing  well  known  church- 
men from  all  the  city  churches,  the  Union  Catholic 
Library  Association  was  awarded  the  honor  of  selecting 
the  following  list  of  honorary  ushers  for  the  occasion, 
and  all  the  gentlemen  thus  selected  were  present:  E. 
J.  McDonnell,  J.  H.  Burke,  Washington  Hesing,  P. 
J.  Hennesey,  W.  Q.  Kerrigan,  D.  McCarthy,  Chas. 
E.  Frizillie,  Frank  Niesen,  Michael  Sullivan,  Ed. 
Mantz,  Jas.  Conlan,  Jr.,  E.  D.  Winslow,  Z.  P.  Bros- 
seau,  Dr.  Walter  Hay,  Joseph  McDonald,  J.  H.  Dy- 
nan,  Jno.  K.  Dwyer,  T.  J.  Nerney,  Jno.  Gaynor,  P. 
McGuire,  P.  McHugh,  P.  A.  Barron,  M.  J.  Keane, 
W.  H.  O'Brien,  J.  H.  Daley,  Col.  Ezra  Taylor,  M. 
A.  Devine,  M.  W.  Kirwin,  Thomas  Carney,  John  Mc- 
Mahon,  Thomas  Lynch,  George  A.  Bannanline,  James 
Walsh,  W.  A.  Amberg,  E.  E.  S.  Eagle,  Henry  Cohen, 
M.  A.  Driscoll,  John  Anderson,  F.  T.  Colbey,  Thomas 
Carney,  John  Lynch,  and  A.  P.  Callahan. 

"The  expressions  of  the  laity  at  the  cathedral,"  com- 
mented one  of  the  daily  papers,  "were  candid  and  hearty. 
They  all  are  delighted  to  find  in  the  chair  whose  most 
beloved  occupant  they  will  never  cease  to  mourn — 
Thomas  Foley — one  who  was  the  devoted  friend  of  that 


HIS   COMING   TO   CHICAGO   IN   1880  95 

prelate,  and  who,  in  those  characteristics  which  appeal 
to  us  most,  resembles  him  so  much.  There  was  a  general 
expression  of  satisfaction,  too,  that  the  interregnum 
was  at  an  end ;  and  no  man  could  have  been  sent  to  take 
the  vacant  place  who  would  or  could  be  more  enthu- 
siastically received  than  Archbishop  Feehan." 


CHAPTER  IX 

RECEPTION  OF  THE  PALLIUM 

DETAILS  OF  THE  SOLEMN  INSTALLATION  IN  THE  CATHEDRAL — 
THE  SERMON  BY  BISHOP  HOGAN — MEANING  OF  THE  PALLIUM 
— WHEN  AND  HOW  MADE  AND  BLESSED — THE  PALLIUM  IS 
PLACED  UPON  HIS  SHOULDERS. 

THE  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name  was  soon  to  be  the 
scene  of  a  ceremony  equally,  if  not  even  more  impres- 
sive and  elaborate  than  the  Archbishop's  Installation. 
On  December  17,  1880,  the  Rev.  P.  D.  Gill  was  dele- 
gated by  Rome  to  be  the  bearer  of  the  "Pallium"  to 
the  new  Archbishop  of  Chicago.  He  arrived  in  the 
beginning  of  January  and  arrangements  were  at  once 
made  for  the  solemn  Investiture  of  the  Archbishop. 
Invitations  were  sent  to  the  suffragan-bishops  of  the 
archdiocese  and  to  all  the  clergy  within  its  limits,  to 
attend  the  conferring  of  the  "Pallium,"  the  insignia 
of  the  archiepiscopal  office. 

The  clergy  completely  filled  the  spacious  sanctuary. 
The  body  of  the  church  was  compactly  occupied  by  the 
large  congregation,  in  which  were  well  known  Catholics 
from  all  parts  of  the  city.  Miss  Feehan,  sister  of  the 
Archbishop,  was  also  a  deeply  interested  observer  of 
the  ceremony. 

At  half  past  ten  o'clock  the  ecclesiastical  procession 
filed  from  the  vestry  into  the  sanctuary.  Pontifical 
High  Mass  begun  as  soon  as  the  celebrant,  Bishop 
Baltes,  of  Alton,  was  vested.  His  Lordship  was  assisted 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Butler,  of  Rockford,  as  assistant  priest; 
Rev.  J.  P.  Roles  and  Rev.  P.  J.  Conway  as  deacons 
of  honor;  Rev.  Maurice  Burke,  of  Joliet,  and  Rev.  P. 

96 


RECEPTION   OF  THE   PALLIUM  97 

Dunne,  as  deacons  of  the  Mass.  Fathers  Dowling,  De- 
laney  and  Carroll  were  masters  of  ceremony. 

Invitations  to  Bishops  and  clerical  dignitaries  in  ad- 
jacent states  and  dioceses,  and  all  the  clergymen 
within  the  archdiocese  of  Chicago,  had  been  sent  out, 
and  upon  no  previous  occasion  had  the  Cathedral  been 
occupied  by  so  large  and  distinguished  a  gathering  of 
clergymen. 

Upon  his  throne  sat  His  Grace,  the  Archbishop,  in 
person  the  most  imposing  and  dignified  of  the  clerical 
assembly.  There  were  also  present  five  prelates:  the 
Right  Rev.  Bishops  Baltes,  of  Alton,  111.;  Hogan,  of 
Kansas  City  and  St.  Joseph,  Mo. ;  Spalding,  of  Peoria ; 
Ryan,  of  St.  Louis,  and  Dwenger,  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

The  Chicago  clergy  were  represented  by  the  follow- 
ing: The  Very  Rev.  John  J.  McMullen,  D.  D.,  V.  G., 
Rector  of  the  Cathedral;  Very  Rev.  Arnold  Damen, 
S.  J. ;  the  Rev.  Fathers  Joseph  P.  Roles,  P.  J.  Conway, 
P.  A.  Hentzler,  O.  S.  S.,  P.  J.  Butler,  Joseph  Essing, 
C.  SS.  R.;  P.  S.  Des  Marteau,  O.  S.  B.;  J.  H.  Grogan, 
John  Walton,  Fred  Kalvelage,  T.  Burke,  P.  W.  Rior- 
dan,  James  Cole,  Clement  Venn,  P.  M.  Noonan,  J.  M. 
Cartan,  T.  F.  Cashman,  S.  M.  A.  Barrett,  V.  Barzyn- 
ski,  C.  R.;  F.  Bobal,  P.  Fisher,  H.  McGuire,  Adolph 
Snigurski,  W.  Choka,  E.  M.  Smith,  C.  M.;  E.  Webber, 
A.  Morini,  O.  S.;  M.  J.  Dorney,  P.  M.  Flannagan, 
John  Carroll,  D.  M.  J.  Dowling,  John  J.  Delaney, 
John  J.  Carroll,  F.  O'Neil,  T.  F.  Galligan,  J.  J.  Fla- 
herty, Achille  Bergeron,  Th.  Carroll,  E.  A.  Kelly,  A. 
Goulet,  John  Waldron,  Jr.;  F.  Henneberry,  L.  Er- 
hard,  P.  Corcoran,  F.  J.  Nighe,  W.  A.  Horan,  E. 
Murphy,  T.  A.  Burke,  and  M.  McLaughlin. 

From  outside  the  city  were  present:  The  Rev. 
Fathers  F.  A.  Keenan,  Amboy;  P.  McNamara,  Apple 


98         THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

River;  P.  Sheedy,  Arlington;  H.  Tolen,  Joseph  Mc- 
Mahon,  C.  Schweikel,  and  F.  Chouinard,  C.  S.  V., 
Aurora,  111. ;  L.  B.  Kanzleiter  and  D.  Spellman,  Bata- 
via;  the  Very  Rev.  P.  Baudion,  C.  S.  V.,  R.  D.,  Bour- 
bonnais  Grove;  James  J.  Bennett,  Braidwood;  Dominic 
Egan,  Harvard;  M.  Stack,  Huntley;  Walter  H.  Power 
and  M.  F.  Burke,  Joliet;  G.  Beecher,  O.  S.  F.;  M. 
Welby,  Lake  Forest;  F.  J,  Antl  and  J.  E.  Hogan,  Le- 
mont;  J.  J.  McGovern,  D.  D.,  and  F.  Sixt,  Lockport; 
James  Maloney,  Minooka;  A.  Wenker,  Naperville;  D. 
M.  Thiele,  Niles  Center;  Peter  J.  Gormley,  Ohio;  J. 
Treacy,  Rochelle;  T.  J.  Butler,  D.  D.,  R.  D.,  Rock- 
ford;  A.  J.  Thiele,  Rose  Hill;  P.  Daly,  Middle  Creek; 
C.  J.  Huth,  Somonauk;  M.  VandeLaar,  South  Chicago; 
C.  J.  O'Callaghan,  D.  D.,  Sterling;  M.  Zara,  St. 
Charles;  R.  H.  McGuire,  Tampico;  E.  W.  Gavin,  Wau- 
keegan;  W.  Netstraeter,  Wilmette;  T.  F.  Ley  don, 
Woodstock;  Hugh  O'Gara,  and  Th.  O'Gara,  Wilming- 
ton; John  A.  Fanning,  D.  D.,  Fairbury;  M.  J. 
Marsille,  C.  S.  V.,  Anthony  Mainville,  C.  S.  V.,  and 
Th.  Conway,  C.  S.  V.  from  Bourbonnais. 

There  were  also  present,  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Gill,  who 
brought  the  "Pallium"  from  Rome;  the  Superiors  of 
the  Christian  Brothers  from  St.  Patrick's,  St.  Bridget's 
and  St.  John's;  Brother  Leonard,  Superior-General, 
and  Father  Martel  of  the  Alexian  Brothers.  Further- 
more, representatives  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  Sisters 
of  Charity,  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic,  Servite  Sisters, 
Benedictine  Sisters,  Redemptorist  Sisters  and  the 
Sisters  of  St.  Francis. 

The  following  gentlemen,  selected  by  the  Union 
Catholic  Library  Association,  acted  as  ushers  on  the 
occasion:  James  Sullivan,  Michael  Sullivan,  M.  A. 
Devine,  B.  Langan,  P.  Carney,  Peter  Conlan,  P.  Me- 


RECEPTION   OF  THE   PALLIUM  99 

Guire,  Joseph  Philbin,  James  Conlan,  Jr.,  and  E.  O. 
Brown. 

After  the  Gospel,  Bishop  Hogan  ascended  the  pulpit 
and  delivered  the  following  discourse  on  the  text  of  St. 
Matthew,  xx,  25-28: 

"You  know  that  the  princes  of  the  Gentiles  lord  it 
over  them;  and  they  that  are  the  greater,  exercise 
power  upon  them.  It  shall  not  be  so  among  you: 
but  whosoever  will  be  the  greater  among  you,  let 
him  be  your  minister:  and  he  that  will  be  first  among 
you,  shall  be  your  servant.  Even  as  the  Son  of  man 
is  not  come  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister, 
and  to  give  his  life  a  redemption  for  many." 

Most  Reverend,  Right  Reverend,  and  Reverend  Fa- 
thers— Dear  Brethren: 

"These  words  that  I  have  read  to  you  from  the  holy 
Gospel,  embody,  as  it  seems  to  me,  the  spirit  of  every 
government  that  is  good  government  whether  of  the 
ecclesiastical  or  the  civil  order. 

"The  power  that  we  receive  from  Almighty  God  is 
given  to  us,  whether  as  His  Church  or  a  State,  not  to 
lord  it  over  those  who  are  bound  to  obey,  but  in  order 
to  do  service,  in  order  to  promote  their  good,  their 
spiritual  and  their  temporal  well-being;  hence,  our 
Blessed  Lord  in  laying  the  foundations  of  the  Church, 
and,  consequently  of  civil  society,  has  said  to  those  who 
are  to  exercise  power :  'Lord  it  not  as  the  Gentiles  over 
their  subjects,  but  whoever  would  be  the  greatest  among 
you  shall  be  your  minister,  and  he  who  would  be  first 
among  you  let  him  be  your  servant  even  as  the  Lord 
came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister  and  to 
give  His  life  a  redemption  for  many." 

"This  is  the  principle  of  the  legitimate  exercise  of 
power,  whether  it  be  the  power  in  the  Church  or  in  the 
State.  And  God  has  given  power  to  no  one,  never  will 


100       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

give  power  to  anyone,  unless  that  power  be  exercised 
for  the  good  of  those  for  whom  it  is  given.  I  think 
I  have  here,  my  dear  brethren,  not  only  the  foundation 
upon  which  our  Church  is  built,  but  also,  and  apart  from 
the  divine  promises  made  to  it,  the  reason  why  that 
Church  is  perpetual.  Because  the  power  that  Almighty 
God  gave  the  Church  for  the  edification  of  the  faithful 
has  been  exercised  according  to  the  command  of  Jesus 
Christ,  not  for  the  glory  of  the  government,  not  for 
personal  greatness  or  aggrandizement,  because  all  per- 
sonal glory  is  vain.  There  is  no  true  glory  but  that 
which  comes  from  Almighty  God.  'If  I  glorify  my- 
self, my  glory  is  nothing.'  Hence  because  the  authority 
in  the  Church  has  been  exercised,  not  for  human  or 
individual  glory,  but  for  the  honor  and  glory  of  God, 
therefore  that  Church  lives  and  is  perpetuated  in  its 
greatness. 

"And  even  apart  from  the  divine  promise  that  Jesus 
Christ  made  to  His  Church  that  it  should  never  fail, 
we  have  here  a  guarantee  that  the  Church  shall  last  as 
long  as  the  world  lasts.  You  know  that  Almighty  God 
gave  power;  that  the  government  of  His  Church  would 
be  impossible  without  authority.  He  says:  'All  power 
is  given  to  Me  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  Go  ye,  there- 
fore, teach  all  nations :  teach  them  to  observe  all  things 
which  I  have  commanded  you.'  Jesus  Christ  received 
power  from  the  Eternal  Father,  and  as  God  and  man, 
the  founder  of  our  Church,  He  imparts  that  power  to 
those  who  are  to  govern  the  Church,  power  to  preach, 
to  baptize,  to  bless,  to  incorporate  into  the  great  family 
of  Jesus  Christ,  into  that  body  of  which  He  is  the  head, 
and  we  the  members. 

"And  in  what  spirit  is  that  power  to  be  exercised?  In 
the  spirit  of  ministration.  'He  who  would  be  the 


RECEPTION   OF   THE   PALLIUM  101 

greater  among  you  let  him  be  as  your  minister,  and  he 
who  would  be  first  among  you,  let  him  be  as  your 
servant.  The  princes  of  the  Gentiles  lord  it  over  them, 
and  they  who  are  greater  exercise  power  upon  them. 
Let  it  not  be  so  with  you  in  Christ.'  Hence,  my  breth- 
ren, when  we  admire  and  are  grateful  to  Almighty  God 
for  His  spiritual  power  and  authority  which  is  estab- 
lished here  today,  oh,  let  us  think  also  of  the  goodness 
of  Almighty  God  in  telling  us  how  that  power  is  to 
be  exercised!  It  is  to  be  exercised  with  humility,  with 
patience,  with  meekness,  with  love  for  those  who  are 
to  be  benefited,  even  as  Jesus  Christ  Himself  came  to 
give  His  life  a  redemption  for  many. 

"The  life  of  the  archbishop,  and  the  bishop,  and  the 
priest  is  to  be  a  life  of  sacrifice,  a  life  founded  upon  that 
of  Jesus  Christ  Himself,  the  good  shepherd  who  laid 
down  His  life  for  the  salvation  of  His  flock. 

"And,  my  dear  brethren,  has  not  that  been  the  spirit 
in  which  the  Church  has  exercised  its  power  in  every 
age?  What  you  see  here  in  Chicago  is  but  a  repetition 
and  a  perpetuation  of  that  spirit  and  that  action  which 
has  animated  the  Church  in  every  age.  You  see  your 
priests  going  around  to  attend  the  sick,  teaching  the 
catechism,  preaching  the  Word  of  God,  building  up 
the  orphan  asylum,  building  a  home  for  the  poor  and 
aged.  And  what  is  this,  my  dear  brethren,  but  ful- 
filling the  command  of  Jesus  Christ  to  minister  unto 
others,  to  minister  unto  the  little  ones,  to  look  to  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  pattern,  not  to  lord  it  over  them  as  the 
Gentiles.  Hence,  my  dear  brethren,  in  every  age  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff  has  called  himself  the  servant  of  ser- 
vants, and  the  illustrious  prelate  who  is  here  enthroned 
before  you  today  has  come  to  make  a  solemn  profes- 
sion that  he  will  exercise  his  holy  power,  his  great  au- 


102       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

thority,  that  he  will  exercise  it  as  every  ruler  ought — 
for  your  good,  for  the  good  of  the  people,  for  the  good 
of  the  faithful  in  general. 

"And  before  I  go  any  further,  I  will  say  that  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  and  the  government  of 
the  State  of  Missouri,  and  of  these  several  states,  has 
struck  upon  the  principle  that  is  common  to  Christian- 
ity; that  to  the  president,  the  governor,  the  mayor,  no 
matter  what  authority  he  may  have,  the  people  here  say : 
'You  shall  exercise  that  authority  for  the  good  of  the 
people;  you  shall  exercise  it  for  the  good  of  the  gov- 
ernment; you  shall  be  the  servant  of  the  people,  and 
minister  to  the  people,  and  you  shall  not  lord  it  over 
the  people/  I  can  tell  you,  my  dear  brethren,  that  this 
is  the  cornerstone  of  Christianity.  And  I  find  a  great 
harmony  between  the  Church  and  the  State  in  that  prin- 
ciple; and  as  the  Catholic  Church  has  built  itself  up, 
and  spread  to  the  bounds  of  the  world  on  that  principle, 
therefore  I  hope  that  as  long  as  the  governments  of 
these  countries  keep  to  that  vital  principle  their  per- 
petuation is  insured ;  and  therefore  I  find  that  the  laws, 
and  the  happiness,  and  the  prosperity  of  this  country 
are  built  upon  the  same  corner-stone  as  the  Catholic 
Church  itself,  and  that  there  is  a  harmony  between 
catholicity  in  religion  and  catholicity  in  politics,  for  no 
government  that  is  not  built  upon  that  principle  can 
last,  because  it  is  not  a  government  founded  upon  the 
wisdom  of  Almighty  God. 

"Let  me  say  further  that  it  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to 
address  you  on  this  occasion,  and  that,  although  in  the 
presence  of  prelates,  archbishops,  and  so  many  learned 
priests,  of  a  city  whose  name  is  famous  over  the  whole 
world,  yet  I  feel  perfectly  at  home  in  addressing  you, 
because  I  am  not  a  stranger  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 


RECEPTION   OF  THE   PALLIUM  103 

It  is  thirty  years  ago  since  I  set  my  foot  upon  this 
state  which  is  now  so  great,  and  it  was  my  happiness 
and  privilege  in  that  early  life  to  receive  the  Bishop 
who  is  now  in  heaven,  the  illustrious  Bishop  Vander- 
Velde.  He  was  consecrated  at  St.  Louis,  if  I  remember 
aright,  on  the  25th  of  March,  1849,  and  I  was  one  of 
the  committee  appointed  in  the  city  of  Alton  to  re- 
ceive him.  That  was  the  first  town  that  he  visited  in 
this  whole  state,  which  was  then  in  his  jurisdiction,  and 
I  remember  how  that  saintly  prelate  set  to  his  work  to 
preach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  administer 
the  Holy  Sacraments.  After  having  visited  that  parish 
church,  he  then  set  out  to  come  here  to  his  episcopate. 
How  do  you  think  he  came  here?  We  find  it  easy,  just 
to  take  a  sleeping-car  in  St.  Louis  and  wake  here  in 
Chicago  in  the  morning,  without  a  jolt  and  without 
trouble.  This  saintly  prelate  put  himself  into  a  stage. 
There  was  not  then  one  mile  of  railway  in  the  State  of 
Illinois,  and  the  rivers  were  frozen.  This  saintly  prelate 
went  into  a  stage  with  the  Vicar  General  of  his  diocese, 
the  Very  Rev.  Father  Walter  Quarter.  They  said  the 
journey  would  take  four  days  in  the  winter  time  to  come 
from  Alton  to  Chicago. 

"Behold,  now,  what  a  great  people  you  are!  There 
were  then  but  forty  or  fifty  priests  in  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, and  your  membership  was  very  small.  Now,  your 
numbers  are  half  a  million,  and  you  have  four  episcopal 
sees  and  a  priesthood  of  five  hundred  or  more,  all  men 
eminent  for  learning  and  dignity  and  zeal  and  inno- 
cence of  life.  And  as  the  Church  has  grown  apace,  so 
has  your  city  grown.  Why  should  not  this  great  city 
grow  upon  the  same  principles  that  made  the  Church 
great?  Because  the  government  is  for  the  governed. 
The  government  is  not  for  human  glory,  or  human 


104       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

greatness,  or  human  aggrandizement,  but  it  is  a  govern- 
ment of  the  people  and  for  the  people,  and  in  their 
interest.  Therefore,  I  say,  let  this  government  of 
Church  and  State  advance  as  they  have  advanced, 
founded  upon  the  great  principles  that  Jesus  Christ 
has  enunciated;  that  government  is  not  for  those  who 
govern  but  for  the  governed. 

"Now,  my  dear  brethren,  in  this  country  where  are 
so  many  Catholics,  it  must  be  said  that  the  Catholic 
Church  is  comparatively  alone ;  that  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  prejudice  against  Catholicity;  and,  strange  to  say, 
although  the  Church  has  existed  here  since  the  day  of 
the  Republics  origin  and  before  it,  and  the  Church 
and  State  have  existed  in  harmony  and  together,  I 
wonder  why  it  is  that  since  Catholics  can  so  faithfully 
discharge  their  duties  towards  the  government  that  they 
are  in  public  estimation  thought  to  be  hostile  to  these 
institutions.  Many  who  object  to  the  Catholic  Church 
say  it  is  allied  to  tyranny;  that  the  archbishops  and 
bishops  and  priests  have  allied  themselves  to  tyranny 
in  every  age.  I  deny  this,  and  I  appeal  to  history. 

"I  will  examine  the  history  of  the  Church  for  the  first 
three  hundred  years,  and  you  will  find  that  the  history 
of  the  popes  and  the  archbishops,  and  the  bishops  and 
the  patriarchs  is  a  history  of  struggle  against  tyranny. 
If  they  wished  they  could  have  allied  themselves  with 
the  pagan  emperors;  they  could  have  become  vassals  of 
these  men  with  vast  power.  But  they  were  sent  by 
Jesus  Christ  to  establish  the  truth.  They  were  not  to 
ally  themselves  with  the  princes  of  paganism,  and  hence 
you  find  that  the  popes  and  bishops  in  every  age  have 
resisted  the  unjust  power  of  the  government.  I  need 
not  refer  you  to  the  fact  that  it  is  for  the  liberties  of 
the  people — for  the  liberties  of  Christian  people  and 


RECEPTION   OF  THE   PALLIUM  105 

Christianity — and  civilization  that  so  many  great  prel- 
ates, and  bishops,  and  archbishops,  and  patriarchs 
have  laid  down  their  lives,  that  we,  their  posterity,  may 
become  a  free  people. 

"If  I  look  into  history  I  find  that  even  when  the  world 
became  Christian  the  archbishops  had  to  engage  in  con- 
flicts. Look  at  the  conflict  of  the  great  Archbishop 
Athanasius  with  Constantine,  Constantius,  Valens  and 
Julian.  This  Archbishop  governed  the  See  of  Alexan- 
dria for  forty-four  years,  and  during  that  time  his  life 
was  a  continual  conflict  with  these  tyrants.  Let  me  say 
to  you  that  when  the  pagan  emperors  became  Christian, 
they  were  often  Christian  only  in  name,  and  they  were 
the  first  to  abridge  the  liberties  of  the  Church  and  the 
liberties  of  the  children  of  the  Church.  Hence,  the  great 
Archbishop  Athanasius  was  many  times  driven  into 
exile  among  the  hermits  of  upper  Egypt,  to  hide  him- 
self in  caves  and  in  cisterns,  and  to  come  back  again 
to  his  diocese  to  govern  his  flock. 

"If  we  come  down  a  little  later  in  history  we  have  the 
example  of  the  illustrious  Ambrose.  You  say  to  me 
that  archbishops  and  bishops  allied  themselves  to  kings 
and  princes  and  tyrants  against  the  poor.  Come  with 
me  to  that  great  city  in  Asia  Minor,  and  see  that  bishop 
standing  at  the  door  of  his  cathedral  with  crozier  in 
his  hand,  and  saying  to  the  proud  Emperor  Theodosius : 
'Begone  from  me!  You  are  stained  with  blood.  You 
have  sacrificed  the  lives  of  your  subjects.  You  have 
polluted  the  house  of  God.  Away  with  you!'  The 
humblest  beggar  was  more  welcome  in  that  cathedral 
before  Ambrose  than  was  Theodosius. 

"You  have  read  about  the  life  of  Gregory  VII,  Hilde- 
brand  as  he  is  called,  although  his  life  is  misrepresented 
and  misunderstood.  Witness  his  great  conflicts  made 


106       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

against  tyranny  for  the  cause  of  the  people,  for  religion, 
and  consequently  for  civil  liberty.  Because,  where  there 
is  no  religious  liberty  the  people  are  in  degradation  and 
in  slavery.  Behold,  then,  this  great  pontiff  saying  to  the 
proud  emperor  of  Germany,  Henry  IV :  'Begone  from 
my  province !  Go  and  do  penance !  You  are  unworthy 
to  stand  as  a  member  of  the  flock  of  Jesus  Christ!' 

"And  so  I  come  down  through  the  ages,  illustrating  the 
great  efforts  that  the  men  of  God  have  made  for  the  poor. 
I  come  to  England,  in  the  days  of  its  Catholicity,  and 
we  see  St.  Thomas  a  Becket,  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, confronting  Henry  II.  You  know  that  the  Arch- 
bishop was  educated  by  the  king  himself.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  king's  household.  He  held  a  high  office 
in  the  Church,  I  think,  as  Archdeacon,  and  when  the 
time  came  to  elect  an  incumbent  for  the  metropolitan 
see  of  Canterbury,  and  when  Thomas  heard  that  the 
king  was  using  his  influence  that  he  might  be  appointed 
Archbishop,  he  said  to  him:  'Your  Majesty,  do  not 
use  your  influence  that  I  may  become  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  for  if  you  do,  let  me  tell  Your  Majesty 
humbly  that  the  great  love  you  bear  me  may  be  changed 
into  hatred  for  me,  that  the  favor  you  have  for  me  may 
be  turned  into  dislike.  For,  if  I  become  Archbishop, 
it  is  my  duty  to  tell  Your  Majesty  that  there  are  many 
things  in  your  life  that  I  will  be  obliged  to  correct.' 
Yet  Thomas  became  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and 
he  fulfilled  his  promise,  although  he  was  indebted  to 
the  king  for  his  education  and  for  his  patronage  in  the 
Church.  He  told  Henry  II  that  he  could  not  outrage 
the  liberties  of  the  Church;  that  there  were  rights  and 
duties  which  even  the  king  should  not  trample  upon. 
And  you  know  the  history — how  the  Archbishop  Thom- 
as a  Becket,  the  Primate  of  England,  laid  down  his 


RECEPTION   OF  THE   PALLIUM  107 

life  upon  the  steps  of  the  altar,  that  religious  and  con- 
sequently civil  liberty  may  exist  all  over  the  world. 

"But,  my  dear  brethren,  I  am  going  too  far  away  from 
the  subject.  These  prerogatives,  this  power  and  juris- 
diction, are  to  be  exercised  in  a  spirit  of  meekness,  in 
a  spirit  of  charity  with  innocence  of  life,  with  love,  es- 
pecially for  the  poor.  And  hence,  the  Church  not  only 
in  the  early  ages,  but  in  every  age,  and  the  lives  of  the 
archbishops,  show  what  the  life  of  this  Archbishop  is 
and  will  be. 

"Now,  whenever  liberty  does  not  exist,  tyranny  and 
degradation  shall  follow;  and  by  liberty  I  mean  obe- 
dience to  lawful  authority.  I  mean  that  where  the 
authority  that  Jesus  Christ  set  up  in  St.  Peter,  who 
is  the  pillar  and  the  crown  of  truth,  where  that  au- 
thority is  not  obeyed  implicitly,  mankind  do  tend  and 
will  eventually  fall  into  degradation.  You  have  but 
to  cast  your  eyes  on  the  history  of  the  Church.  A  few 
days  ago  you  heard  of  the  assassination  of  the  Emperor 
of  Russia,  who  is  not  only  the  head  of  the  State,  but 
also  the  head  of  the  Church.  The  Greek  Church  has 
thought  fit  to  usurp  the  sovereignty  of  Jesus  Christ 
and  His  Pontiff,  and  they  have  taken  the  anointed 
mitre  and  placed  it  upon  the  emperor.  What  is  the 
result?  The  country  is  in  slavery.  We  see  there  an 
excess  of  tyranny  and  an  excess  of  disobedience. 

"Look  at  that  once  illustrious  eastern  Church!  What 
has  become  of  the  great  Archiepiscopal  Sees  of  Alex- 
andria, and  Constantinople,  and  Smyrna,  and  so  many 
other  names  illustrious  in  the  early  ages  of  the  Church? 
Where  are  those  great  archbishops,  patriarchs  and 
primates  who  attended  the  Councils  of  Nice,  and 
Ephesus,  and  Constantinople?  Where  are  the  Basils 
and  the  Chrysostoms,  and  the  many  other  illustrious 
men  of  that  Church? 


108       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"That  Church  has  sunk  in  degradation.  And  why? 
Because  it  has  disobeyed  the  authority  of  Jesus  Christ. 
It  has  taken  the  mitre  off  the  pontiff  of  Jesus  Christ 
and  placed  it  upon  the  king.  Therefore  it  has  fallen  into 
the  loss  of  religious  and  civil  liberty,  and  that  whole 
eastern  world  is  in  degradation  and  slavery.  The  crown 
of  glory  has  been  swept  from  it.  The  Church  and  State 
are  sunk  in  degradation,  and  we  have  only  to  look  at 
those  places  once  illustrious  but  now  dark  as  midnight, 
where  there  is  neither  Christianity  nor  the  light  of 
civilization  because  they  sacrificed  their  Christian  lib- 
erty. They  have  sunk  their  Christian  liberty  in  the 
head  of  the  State,  and  thereby  sealed  their  own  degrada- 
tion. Why  is  it  that  the  Roman  Church  is  so  great? 
Because  they  acknowledge  the  authority  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  His  Vicar,  the  head  of  the  Church.  And  that 
authority  you  will  see  exercised  and  set  before  your  eyes 
emblematically  in  a  little  while  by  the  Sacred  Pallium 
that  was  brought  from  the  body  of  St.  Peter,  and  that 
is  to  be  placed  upon  the  shoulders  of  your  Arch- 
bishop. 

"So  much  for  the  necessity  of  religious  liberty,  that 
there  may  be,  too,  civil  liberty.  So  much  for  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  in  enlightening  and 
civilizing  the  nations.  But  how  is  this  authority  of  the 
Church  to  be  exercised,  if  not  with  patience,  with  love  for 
the  flock  of  Jesus  Christ?  Oh!  that  the  example  of  Jesus 
Christ  may  be  ever  before  our  eyes,  Who  laid  down  His 
life  for  His  flock,  the  Good  Shepherd  who  brings  home 
the  stray  sheep  on  His  shoulder,  and  even  lays  down 
His  life  that  souls  may  live!  What  other  life  can  a 
priest  or  a  bishop,  or  an  archbishop,  value  but  a  life 
of  sacrifice,  a  life  which  is  a  living  sacrifice,  a  life 
crowned  by  laying  it  down  for  the  people?  No  priest  is 


RECEPTION   OF   THE   PALLIUM  109 

worthy  of  the  name  who  is  not  willing  to  make  a  sacri- 
fice of  himself  for  the  people. 

"Need  I  tell  you  that  history  furnishes  numberless 
examples?  May  I  not  without  undue  praise  point  to 
your  own  Archbishop  as  an  example  of  sacrifice?  A 
few  years  ago  there  was  a  great  plague  in  his  diocese 
in  the  South.  This  Bishop  and  his  flock  did  not  run 
away  from  the  plague.  They  could  not,  and  be  the 
ministers  of  Jesus  Christ.  You  will  find  priest  after 
priest  dying,  even  the  Christian  brothers  and  the  nuns 
laying  down  their  lives,  one  after  another,  in  order  to 
take  care  of  the  poor  and  the  sick.  And  the  Archbishop 
himself,  as  that  plague  came  near  him,  exercised  his 
charity  more  and  more  by  encouraging  his  priests  and 
by  going  himself  to  minister  to  the  sick,  and  gathering 
the  little  orphans  into  the  orphan  asylum,  in  order  that 
as  their  natural  parents  were  taken  to  heaven  through 
God's  Providence,  that  same  Providence  would  provide 
through  the  Bishop  and  the  priests  for  the  poor  and 
needy.  I  say  that  his  example  in  modern  times  is  worthy 
of  the  best  days  of  the  Church. 

"Reading  the  history  of  the  bishops  in  France,  in  the 
days  of  that  great  kingdom,  we  know  that  about  two 
hundred  years  ago  there  was  a  great  plague  in  the  South 
of  France.  The  plague  broke  out  in  Marseilles,  a  port 
of  entry  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Mediterranean.  The 
bishop  of  that  city  happened  to  be  in  Paris  when  the 
plague  broke  out,  and  word  was  sent  to  him  that  his 
people  were  dying  with  the  plague.  The  people  were 
panic-stricken.  Even  some  of  the  clergy  and  the  of- 
ficers of  the  city  neglected  their  duty.  Did  that  prelate 
keep  away  from  his  flock?  We  read  that  he  hired  a 
carriage  and  a  pair  of  horses,  and  from  Paris  to  Mar- 
seilles, a  distance  of  five  hundred  miles,  he  drove  night 


110       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

and  day,  one  relay  of  horses  after  another,  until  he  got 
into  the  midst  of  that  plague-stricken  city,  and  went 
around  with  his  priests  ministering  to  the  sick  and  the 
dying,  encouraging  the  authorities  and  providing  for 
the  sick  and  the  orphan. 

"It  may  be  some  of  you  have  had  the  pleasure  of  visit- 
ing that  city  of  Marseilles.  If  you  will  go  to  one  of 
the  public  streets  of  that  city  you  will  find  a  grand 
monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  that  noble  bishop, 
with  a  mitre  on  his  head  and  sandals  on  his  feet,  and 
numbers  of  the  dying  around  him  and  he  ministering 
to  them. 

"Look  at  the  example  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  an 
illustrious  example  for  all  our  archbishops;  a  man 
of  noble  family,  of  high  learning;  a  man  who  in  early 
manhood  was  appointed  and  thought  fit  to  be  a  Cardinal 
in  the  Church  of  God.  He  was  the  moving  and  the  rul- 
ing genius  of  the  great  Council  of  Trent.  We  read 
that  as  he  governed  his  diocese  he  sold  his  patrimony 
and  distributed  it  among  the  poor;  that  he  would  stop 
on  the  streets  and  the  highways  of  his  diocese  and  teach 
little  children  the  'Lord's  Prayer'  and  the  'Hail 
Mary';  that  he  was  a  frequent  visitor  in  the  cottages 
of  the  poor,  and  when  the  plague  broke  out  in  that  city 
he  devoted  not  only  his  time,  but  his  means  and  his  life. 
He  sold  even  the  furniture  of  his  house  to  supply  the 
wants  of  the  poor. 

"O  illustrious  Church  of  God!  The  Church  that 
teaches  us  how  to  exercise  power;  that  teaches  us  that 
power  is  not  given  to  lord  it  over  the  poor,  and  that 
whosoever  shall  become  a  priest,  or  a  bishop,  or  an 
archbishop,  or  a  primate,  he  is  sent  by  Almighty  God  to 
minister  to  the  poor,  to  be  a  servant  of  the  poor,  to 
devote  his  life  to  them.  I  say  that  this  is  the  principle 


RECEPTION   OF   THE   PALLIUM  111 

together  with  the  promise  of  the  assistance  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  that  has  made  the  Catholic  Church  perpetual, 
and  I  say  that  this  is  the  principle  that  can  even  make 
a  civil  government  perpetual,  when  men  in  power  exer- 
cize their  authority  only  for  the  good  of  the  people. 

"Now,  my  dear  brethren,  how  shall  I  apply  these  prin- 
ciples to  the  ceremony  that  has  taken  place  before  us? 
If  the  Archbishop  is  to  be  a  father  to  the  poor,  if  he 
is  to  be  meek  and  patient,  and  of  spotless  life,  by  what 
ceremony  shall  we  impress  that  more  fully  upon  his 
own  mind  and  upon  the  minds  of  you  who  are  present? 

"A  few  days  ago  the  sacred  pallium  was  sent  here 
by  our  Holy  Father,  Leo  XIII,  in  order  that  the  pal- 
lium or  cloak  may  be  laid  upon  the  shoulders  of  the 
illustrious  incumbent  of  this  Archdiocese. 

"What  is  the  pallium?  It  is  a  covering.  It  is  a 
garment  that  signifies  spotlessness  of  life,  patience, 
meekness,  humility.  It  is  made  of  the  white  wool  of 
lambs.  These  lambs  are  brought  into  the  Church  of 
St.  Agnes,  of  Rome, — which  church  was  built  to  com- 
memorate the  spotlessness  of  the  life  of  St.  Agnes,  who 
is  called  by  that  name  from  the  fact  that  she  was  a 
lamb  in  innocence  and  in  gentleness, — into  the  Church 
of  that  Virgin  who  died  for  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ, 
whose  name  signifies  love  of  God,  faith,  chastity,  meek- 
ness. At  her  feast  on  the  25th  of  January,  every  year, 
two  white  lambs  are  brought  to  the  altar,  and  the  fleece 
of  these  spotless,  innocent  lambs  is  taken  off.  They 
are  blessed  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff.  The  wool  when 
shorn  is  given  into  the  hands  of  nuns  who,  by  their  pro- 
fession, are  ranked  among  those  who  are  specially  be- 
loved by  Jesus  Christ,  who  are  destined  to  follow  the 
Lamb.  They  spin  and  weave  this  white  wool  into  a 
cloth,  and  upon  this  cloth  crosses  are  embroidered — pur- 


112       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

pie  crosses,  to  signify  not  only  innocence,  and  meekness, 
and  purity,  but  also  a  willingness  to  suffer  and  shed 
our  blood  for  Jesus  Christ.  This  pallium  is  then  placed 
before  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  to  be  blessed.  It  is  laid 
on  the  tomb  of  St.  Peter  a  whole  night,  and  from  that 
tomb  it  is  brought  here  to  your  Archbishop.  Therefore 
it  is  said  to  be  brought  from  the  body  of  St.  Peter, 
because  it  has  been  laid  on  his  tomb,  and  it  is  emblematic 
of  the  garment  of  purity,  charity,  and  innocence,  and 
fidelity  to  the  Pontiff.  And  now  we  come,  in  a  few 
minutes  more,  to  see  it  on  the  shoulders  of  your  Arch- 
bishop. 

"I  did  not  enter  this  church,  my  dear  brethren,  to 
flatter  any  person,  but  I  must  speak  the  truth,  and  in 
that  truth  I  say  that  the  illustrious,  our  first  Archbishop 
of  Chicago,  has,  during  a  long  life,  given  us  an  example 
of  spotlessness  of  life,  of  meekness,  of  charity  for  the 
poor,  of  love  for  his  flock,  of  humility  and  exalted  learn- 
ing, of  the  virtues  and  of  the  requirements  of  his  high 
office,  and  therefore  it  was  wise  in  the  Sovereign  Pontiff, 
with  the  wisdom  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  send  you  one 
whose  shoulders  are  so  fit  to  bear  that  garment  em- 
blematic of  meekness,  purity,  and  charity,  and  that  is  so 
full  of  hope  and  promise  for  you,  the  people  of  Chi- 
cago. Therefore,  let  me  congratulate  you.  Oh,  what 
wonderful  things  has  not  God  in  store!  How  ought 
not  His  Church  of  Chicago  to  rejoice! 

"But  a  short  time  ago  we  were  here  to  weep  and  to 
mourn.  This  church  wore  the  emblems  of  sorrow  for 
an  illustrious  prelate,  one  who  loved  his  people,  one  in 
whose  very  face  and  kindly  smile  there  was  benignity 
and  goodness;  I  will  not  name  his  praises  now.  They 
were  spoken  from  this  pulpit  more  eloquently  than  I 
could  speak  them,  and  by  a  prelate  who  is  known 


RECEPTION   OF   THE   PALLIUM  113 

throughout  this  country  for  his  eloquence,  though  even 
the  eloquence  of  such  a  prelate  fell  short  of  the  reality. 
Your  tears  were  the  most  eloquent  tribute  to  his  piety. 
The  gratitude  and  affection  with  which  you  knelt 
around  his  bier  and  accompanied  him  toward  the  grave 
were  the  best  testimony  of  his  holy  life. 

"Now  the  crozier  has  passed  into  other  hands,  and 
this  Church  has  been  even  ennobled.  Let  me  say  that 
the  bishops  who  have  governed  this  Church  have  pre- 
pared the  way  for  this  grand  result,  that  you  are  now 
a  metropolitan  Church,  the  mother  and  the  mistress  of 
churches. 

"My  dear  brethren,  well  may  we  say  of  this  Arch- 
bishop, as  Isaiah  said:  'I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  my 
Lord.  I  will  exult  and  be  glad,  for  He  hath  clothed 
me  with  the  robes  of  justice  and  with  the  garment  of 
innocence.  He  has  covered  me  as  a  bride;  He  has 
decked  me  with  a  crown,  and  as  a  bride  adorned  with 
jewels.' 

"Behold,  then,  your  illustrious  Archbishop  decorated 
and  ennobled  by  that  garment  of  meekness,  patience, 
and  humility !  Oh,  long  may  he  wear  it  I  Long  may  he 
rule  with  gentle  sway  the  holy  priesthood  that  I  see 
here  before  me.  And  to  you,  the  faithful  people  of  this 
great  city  of  Chicago,  and  these  other  dioceses  which 
are  tributary  to  it,  as  I  might  say,  which  are  under  its 
metropolitan  jurisdiction,  I  say,  long  may  the  crozier 
be  made  illustrious  by  this  first  Archbishop,  by  his  life  of 
gentle  purity  and  innocence.  Long  may  his  authority 
be  exercised  here,  and  when  at  length  the  great  pastoral 
Bishop,  Jesus  Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  flock, 
shall  come  to  demand  an  account,  oh!  may  his  blame- 
less and  spotless  life,  its  charity,  humility,  and  meek- 
ness be  the  crown  of  this  illustrious  prelate,  into  whose 


114       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

hands  this  day  is  delivered  the  keeping  of  this  great 
diocese."    Amen. 

After  the  sermon  the  Archbishop  robed  himself  in  the 
vestments  of  the  Mass  and  advanced  slowly  to  the  front 
of  the  altar,  where  he  knelt  down  and  prayed.  He 
then  made  a  Profession  of  Faith,  after  which  Bishop 
Baltes,  assisted  by  the  other  four  prelates,  placed  the 
pallium  upon  his  shoulders.  The  Archbishop  then  rose 
and  gave  his  blessing  to  the  assembled  clergy  and  con- 
gregation. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  ARCHBISHOP 

CONDITIONS  OF  THE  DIOCESE — HIS  FIRST  OFFICIAL  ACT — THE 
CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  MC  MULLEN — DEATH  OF  FATHER 
ST.  CYR — THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  RIORDAN — THE  ARCH- 
BISHOP IS  SUMMONED  TO  ROME — A  TESTIMONIAL  BANQUET — 
ADDRESS  BY  VICAR  GENERAL  CONWAY — REPLY  BY  THE  ARCH- 
BISHOP— A  FULL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DEPARTURE. 

THE  Archdiocese  comprised  eighteen  counties  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state,  in  which  there  were  two 
hundred  churches,  attended  by  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
priests.  The  new  Archbishop  found  that  although 
Bishop  Foley  had  made  herculean  efforts  to  replace  the 
loss  of  the  Church  in  Chicago  occasioned  by  the  great 
fire  of  1871,  there  still  was  a  great  deal  to  be  done. 
Moreover  the  extraordinary  growth  of  the  city  required 
additional  church-room,  charitable  institutions,  more 
schools,  and  also  more  educational  establishments  of 
higher  order.  To  continue  the  good  work  of  his  pred- 
ecessor was  his  aim,  and  his  experienced  hand  was  im- 
mediately felt  in  his  direction  of  the  several  interests 
of  the  archdiocese.  Priests  and  people  were  made  to 
understand  at  once  that  his  administration  would  be 
conservative,  tempered  with  wisdom,  charity,  and  the 
maintenance  of  Church's  discipline  in  all  its  vigor  and 
entirety.  The  Archbishop's  great  knowledge  of  Church 
discipline,  details  of  its  management  and  value,  and  his 
easy  command  of  ecclesiastical  power  were  the  means 
he  used  in  the  administration  of  his  new  charge. 

His  first  official  act  was  to  appoint  the  Very  Rev. 
Dr.  McMullen  Vicar  General  of  the  Archdiocese,  and 
Rev.  D.  J.  Riordan  his  Chancellor  and  Secretary. 

115 


116       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

In  the  beginning  of  May,  1881,  Archbishop  Feehan 
experienced  the  first  parting  of  some  of  the  most  faith- 
ful priests  of  the  Chicago  archdiocese,  who  for  many 
years  had  rendered  such  eminent  services  to  the  Church, 
and  whose  names  are  numbered  among  the  pioneer 
priests  of  the  Chicago  diocese.  On  Sunday,  May  8, 
1881,  the  Holy  Father,  Leo  XIII,  ratified  the  creation 
of  the  new  diocese  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  confirmed 
the  nomination  of  the  Very  Rev.  John  McMullen,  D. 
D.,  its  first  Bishop. 

The  consecration  of  Bishop  McMullen  took  place  in 
the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name,  Chicago,  July  25th ; 
His  Grace  Archbishop  Feehan  was  the  consecrator. 
The  assistant-consecrators  were  the  Right  Rev.  John 
Hennessy  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  the  Right  Rev.  John 
L.  Spalding  of  Peoria,  111.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Rev.  Edw.  McGlynn,  D.  D.,  of  New  York.  At 
the  banquet  which  followed  the  ceremony,  the  clergy 
presented  Bishop  McMullen  with  a  purse  of  $4,000 ;  in 
the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  parishioners  met  in  the 
hall,  and  the  ladies,  through  Mrs.  Michael  Shields,  first 
presented  him  with  a  gift,  after  which  the  men,  through 
Mr.  Redmond  Prindiville,  offered  him  a  purse  of  $3,000. 
Bishop  McMullen  left  Chicago  on  July  30th.  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  appointed  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Conway,  Vicar 
General  of  the  archdiocese  and  Rector  of  the  Cathedral. 

A  very  dear  friend  of  the  Archbishop,  Father  St. 
Cyr,  who  for  many  years  had  been  chaplain  of  the 
Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  Carondelet,  Mo.,  passed  away, 
crowned  with  merits,  on  February  21,  1883.  Father 
St.  Cyr  had  been  the  first  Catholic  pastor  in  Chicago, 
arriving  there  in  May,  1833.  Another  loss  the  Arch- 
bishop was  made  to  suffer  was  the  departure  of  Rev. 
Patrick  W.  Riordan,  who  on  September  16,  1883,  was 


0F1M 
Of  |u; 


THE  MOST  BEY.  PATRICK  W.  HIORDAX,  D.  D. 
Consecrated  in  Chicago   by  Archbishop   Feehan, 

Sept.   16,   1883. 
Died  Dec.  27,  1914 


THE   ARCHBISHOP  117 

consecrated  Bishop-Coadjutor,  with  the  right  of  suc- 
cession to  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Alemany,  of 
San  Francisco.  His  consecration  took  place  in  St. 
James'  Church,  Chicago,  where  he  had  been  pastor  for 
so  many  years.  The  beautiful  Gothic  Church  had  just 
then  been  erected  by  him. 

The  consecrator  was  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Fee- 
han,  assisted  by  Bishop  McCloskey  of  Louisville,  and 
Bishop  Chatard  of  Indianapolis ;  Dr.  Quigley  of  Toledo 
was  Archpriest;  deacons  of  honor  were  the  Rev.  J.  P. 
Roles  of  St.  Mary's,  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Burke,  of 
St.  Columbkille's ;  deacon  of  the  Mass,  Dr.  Goldschmidt 
of  La  Crosse,  Wis. ;  sub-deacon,  the  Rev.  P.  W.  Dunne ; 
masters  of  ceremonies  were  Rev.  P.  D.  Gill  and  Rev. 
D.  J.  Riordan;  chanters,  Rev.  T.  J.  Butler  and  Rev. 
P.  J.  Butler. 

The  following  prelates  were  present  in  the  sanctuary : 
Archbishop  Ireland,  Bishops  Dwenger,  Kain  of  Wheel- 
ing, Fitzgerald  of  Little  Rock,  Krautbauer  of  Green 
Bay,  Hennessy  of  Dubuque,  Baltes  of  Alton,  Ryan  of 
St.  Louis,  Ryan  of  Buffalo,  and  McCloskey  of  Louis- 
ville. 

The  sermon  was  preached  by  Bishop  Spalding  and 
his  concluding  words  were:  "I  feel  confident  that  this 
young  and  vigorous  Bishop,  who  has  today  been  received 
into  the  great  hierarchy  of  the  Church  will  be  able  to 
teach  holiness  to  others  and  prove  an  honor  to  himself." 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  Archbishop  Feehan  was 
summoned  to  Rome  with  the  other  Archbishops  of  the 
United  States,  first  of  all  to  report  as  to  the  standing 
and  conditions  of  the  Church  in  the  provinces  over 
which  they  presided ;  second,  to  make  arrangements  and 
draw  up  a  program  of  business  for  the  Third  Plenary 
Council  of  Baltimore. 


118       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

It  was  on  the  occasion  of  the  Archbishop's  departure 
for  Rome  that  a  grand  testimonial  banquet  was  given 
by  the  clergy  of  the  Archdiocese  on  November  20,  1883. 
One  hundred  and  thirty  priests  were  present  at  the 
festivity,  which  was  given  in  the  school  hall  attached 
to  the  Cathedral.  The  committee  in  charge  of  the  ar- 
rangements were  the  Rev.  Fathers  P.  J.  Conway,  V. 
G.;  E.  M.  Smith,  C.  M.;  P.  Fisher,  T.  P.  Hodnett, 
M.  Dorney,  H.  McGuire,  T.  J.  Butler,  D.D.;  M. 
Burke  and  J.  Mackin.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ban- 
quent  Vicar  General  Conway  presented  to  his  Grace 
the  handsome  sum  of  $10,000,  the  gift  of  the  rectors 
and  assistant  rectors,  secular  and  regular  of  the  diocese, 
and  thereupon  read  the  following  address: 

Most  Reverend  Dear  Archbishop: 

"This  being  your  first  visit  to  Rome  since  coming 
among  us,  we  thought  we  would  signalize  it  by  some 
slight  token  of  respect  and  esteem.  Your  proverbial 
modesty  and  unobtrusive  disposition  would,  we  knew, 
discountenance  the  affair  had  it  reached  your  ears.  You 
found  the  diocese  plunged  in  grief — a  widow  lamenting 
over  the  loss  of  a  spouse  who  had  gained  the  affections 
of  his  spiritual  children  by  prudent,  wise  and  successful 
management,  to  which  were  united  courteous  bearing, 
open  handed  generosity,  a  cultured  mind,  and  a  large 
tender  heart.  The  death  of  Bishop  Foley  cast  a  gloom 
over  the  entire  diocese.  The  three  years  now  elapsed 
since  your  promotion  to  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Chi- 
cago have  been  of  the  happiest  results.  Your  genuine 
kindness,  uniform  suavity  of  manner,  ripe  scholarship 
and  inflexible  integrity  have  won  the  hearts  of  all,  the 
laity  and  clergy  alike.  Whithersoever  you  went 
throughout  the  broad  domain  of  the  diocese,  the  grace 


THE   ARCHBISHOP  119 

and  benediction  of  heaven  descended.  The  impression 
left  is  permanent.  Ere  long  the  tender  plant  will  leaf 
out  and  blossom  forth  into  virtue's  beauteous  flower. 

"Truly  this  short  period  has  been  memorable.  The 
growth  of  the  City  of  Chicago  is  the  marvel  of  the  age, 
the  growth  of  Chicago's  Catholicity  is  the  pride  of  its 
priesthood  and  the  glory  of  its  metropolitan.  Churches 
have  been  reared,  new  missions  formed,  congregations 
organized,  schools  built,  eleemosynary  institutions  estab- 
lished. Twelve  churches  within  the  environs  of  the  city 
alone  have  sprung  up  during  the  past  eighteen  months ; 
the  tear,  too,  has  been  wiped  from  the  eye  of  the  orphan, 
and  the  forlorn  waif  and  the  dejected  outcast  have 
found  a  cheering  home.  These  are  the  sheaves  you  have 
gathered,  this  is  the  recompense  that  crowns  your  effort. 

"As  the  rays  of  the  uprising  sun  strike  first  the  rugged 
peaks  of  the  mountains,  and  then  gradually  descending 
illumine  the  valleys  beneath  until  all  blend  into  a  per- 
fect day,  so  the  light  of  spiritual  intelligence,  of  counsel, 
recognition,  support,  encouragement,  came  from  Your 
Grace,  and  nerved  us  to  greater  sacrifices  in  the  hal- 
lowed cause  of  religion.  You  gave  the  inspiration,  we 
received  it  and  wonders  have  been  accomplished. 

"You  came  hither  not  unknown.  Your  name  and  your 
work  were  before  you.  That  searching  intellect,  that 
well  balanced  mind,  that  genial  warmth  and  liberality 
of  heart,  dignity  of  comportment,  and  withal  that  child- 
like simplicity  told  deeply  upon  the  state  and  people 
with  whom  they  were  erstwhile  associated.  In  Tennes- 
see your  means  were  scanty,  yet  great  was  the  harvest 
that  fell  to  your  sickle.  Every  knoll  around  Nashville, 
not  otherwise  tenanted,  bears  evidence  of  your  episcopal 
solicitude.  For  it  is  turreted  and  enhanced  by  some 
literary  or  benevolent  monument.  These  characteristics 


120       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

were  fittingly  recognized  and  fame  imperfectly  spread 
them  abroad. 

"The  calm  ocean  is  the  basis  of  the  measurement  of  all 
earthly  elevations,  and  in  the  placid  serenity  of  your 
public  and  private  life  we  discovered  the  basis  of  the 
true  Church  dignitary,  the  polished  and  erudite  gentle- 
man, and  the  thoughtful,  considerate,  loving  shepherd 
of  the  fold.  It  is  the  wise,  the  faithful,  the  honest,  the 
humble  man  of  clear  head  and  pure  heart,  the  strong 
and  honorable  Bishop,  that  alone  can  live  up  to  the 
motto  'Be  just  and  fear  not,'  which  motto  Your 
Grace  has  followed. 

"As  the  needle  turns  to  the  pole,  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  your  subjects  turn  towards  you.  This  filial  devotion 
is  not  the  offspring  of  an  hour,  nor  does  it  spring  from 
any  fleeting  spark.  It  is  not  an  empty  feeling.  It 
grows  apace.  It  gathers  strength  with  time.  Years  of 
acquaintance  will  but  shape  and  forge  it  with  a  chain 
that  nothing  but  death  can  break  asunder.  Those  who 
have  once  known  you  intimately  are  your  friends  for- 
ever. 

"At  the  Shrine  of  Peter  we  beg  you  to  lay  the  tribute 
of  our  souls'  best  affections.  Wedded  to  the  ministry 
we  have  no  interest  to  serve  but  the  honor  of  the  Father's 
Name,  and  the  diffusion  of  the  tenets  of  His  faith  among 
the  people.  Rome,  the  center  of  Christian  unity,  the 
mother  See,  blessed  of  heaven,  enriched  by  the  blood  of 
its  sainted,  martyred  pontiffs,  whence  the  great  fisher 
of  men  taught  the  nations,  ever  and  always  commands 
our  obedience  and  exacts  our  homage.  Few,  if  any,  of 
the  hierarchy  of  the  western  world  have  a  diocese  as 
prosperous,  a  priesthood  so  loyal  and  devoted,  as  this 
of  Chicago.  And,  we  would  add,  few,  if  any,  Sees  of 
the  country  will  be  better  or  more  truthfully  represented 


THE   ARCHBISHOP  121 

at  the  Synod  of  the  Vatican  than  the  one  which  claims 
the  jurisdiction  of  Your  Grace.  The  testimonial  which 
we  give  must  not  be  regarded  as  the  meter  of  our  ap- 
preciation. Sterling  worth  we  weigh  not  on  golden  or 
silver  scales.  It  is  merely  the  expression,  the  utterance 
of  the  sentiment  cherished  towards  you.  You  may  need 
it  not.  That,  to  us,  is  immaterial.  It  is  a  personal  gift, 
free,  untrammeled.  The  heart  makes  the  offering,  the 
head  expects  its  acceptance. 

"In  your  journey  homeward  you  will  most  probably 
visit  the  scenes  of  your  childhood.  The  generous  bosom 
of  Ireland  will  again  clasp  her  illustrious  son.  Her 
love  in  all  the  outstretch  of  its  deep  and  touching  sym- 
pathy will  go  out  to  you,  for  she  reveres  and  exults  in 
prelates  such  as  you. 

"And  now,  beloved  Archbishop,  we  ask  your  blessing 
ere  we  bid  you  farewell.  Farewell!  This  word  com- 
mingles sorrow  with  joy;  sorrow  at  your  departure,  joy 
at  the  conviction  that  Chicago's  voice  will  be  heard  with- 
in the  walls  of  the  Vatican.  In  conclusion  we  wish  Your 
Grace  a  prosperous  voyage  and  safe,  felicitous  return 
to  the  people  of  your  choice,  the  clergy  of  your  love, 
and  the  state  and  diocese  you  adorn." 

The  reply  of  Archbishop  Feehan  to  this  address  was 
as  follows: 

"Rev.  dear  Fathers  and  Friends :  I  do  not  know  any 
words  in  which  I  could  convey  to  you  my  thanks  and 
gratitude  for  this  manifestation  of  your  love  and  esteem. 
In  your  kindly  and  most  cordial  words  you  reveal  the 
feelings  of  your  own  generous  heart.  On  the  eve  of 
my  departure  for  a  brief  time  from  you,  you  come  to 
me  with  your  good  wishes  and  your  gifts  which  I  ap- 
preciate beyond  measure.  But,  my  dear  Fathers,  the 


122       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

gift  that  I  prize  more  than  all  the  wealth  of  this  great 
city  is  the  sincere,  honest,  manly  expression  of  your  love 
and  confidence.  As  the  clergy  of  a  diocese  are  the 
bishop's  crown  and  joy,  so  the  feeling  that  he  enjoys 
their  esteem  and  confidence  is  the  highest  reward  that 
he  can  expect  in  this  life. 

"You  kindly  refer  to  the  progress  in  religion  among 
us,  but  this  is  mainly  due  to  the  zeal  and  disinterested 
labor  of  the  clergy,  of  which  I  have  seen  evidence  in 
every  mission  of  the  Archdiocese.  You  come  to  me  as 
I  am  about  to  leave  for  Rome,  and  you  ask  of  me  to 
present  to  the  Supreme  Pastor  your  gifts  and  those  of 
your  faithful  people,  as  a  token  of  your  devotion  and 
loyalty  to  the  successor  of  St.  Peter.  I  shall  present  to 
him  your  gifts  and  others,  too,  still  more  pleasing  and 
grateful.  If  I  tell  him  of  the  marvelous  growth  of 
this  city,  I  shall  tell  him  also  of  the  marvelous  growth 
of  the  city  of  God — His  Church.  I  shall  tell  him  of 
the  self-sacrificing  labors  of  the  many  communities  of 
devoted  religious  ladies,  who  minister  to  the  every  want 
of  science  as  well  as  of  holy  charity.  I  can  tell  him 
of  the  zeal  and  piety  and  labor  and  learning  of  the 
clergy  of  every  rank,  who  are  laying  broad  and  deep 
and  strong  the  foundations  of  a  glorious  Church.  I  will 
assure  him  that  in  the  wide  realm  over  which  the  great 
Pontiff  rules,  in  no  portion  of  it  has  he  sons  more 
thoroughly  devoted,  more  sincerely  loyal  than  the  clergy 
of  the  great  Archdiocese  of  Chicago. 

"My  dear  Fathers,  I  thank  you  again  and  again,  and 
I  shall  bear  with  me  the  remembrance  of  the  expressions 
you  gave  me  this  day  of  your  love  and  confidence." 

Of  the  actual  departure  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  one 
of  the  leading  newspapers  of  Chicago  gave  the  follow- 
ing account: 


THE   ARCHBISHOP  123 

"Three  years  ago  a  delegation  composed  of  the  lead- 
ing Catholic  clergymen  and  laymen  of  Chicago  left  the 
city  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  and  welcoming  the 
young  but  famous  Archbishop,  just  promoted  to  the 
Archiepiscopal  See  of  Chicago,  and  then  on  his  way  to 
this  city  to  assume  the  reins  of  power.  Yesterday  eve- 
ning a  similar  delegation  accompanied  the  same  reverend 
gentleman  a  part  of  his  way  on  his  first  visit  to  Rome 
since  receiving  that  appointment. 

"The  work  accomplished  during  the  intervening  three 
years  has  made  the  name  of  Archbishop  Feehan  to  be 
known  and  regarded  with  love,  honor,  and  respect  all 
over  the  Catholic  world.  Churches  have  been  built, 
missions  founded,  congregations  organized,  schools 
erected,  charitable  institutions  established — all  mainly 
the  result  of  his  energetic  and  unceasing  exertions.  Not 
withered  leaves  but  golden  sheaves  has  the  harvest  been, 
and  the  reaping  is  but  beginning.  The  present  visit  to 
Rome  has  been  already  fruitful  in  one  thing:  it  has 
shown  the  Archbishop  that  his  work  is  appreciated  by 
the  priests  and  people  over  whom  he  presides — shown 
him  in  some  degree  the  reverence,  affection,  and  esteem 
with  which  he  is  regarded  by  the  Catholic  Church  in 
Chicago.  The  formal  banquets  and  addresses,  and  the 
valuable  testimonial  presented  Thursday,  as  well  as  the 
universal  expression  of  feeling  by  the  priests  and  peo- 
ple— the  eagerness  with  which  all  grasp  this  first  occa- 
sion to  do  him  special  honor — are  substantial  proofs  of 
this  high  regard. 

"The  Archbishop  left  his  residence  for  the  Union 
depot  about  5  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon,  accompanied 
by  a  large  section  of  the  city  priesthood,  including  the 
following  special  escorting  committee:  Vicar  General 
P.  J.  Conway,  the  Revs.  E.  M.  Smith,  C.  M.,  P.  Fisher, 


124       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

T.  P.  Hodnett,  H.  McGuire,  M.  Dorney,  T.  J.  Butler, 
D.  D.,  and  J.  Mackin.  A  large  number  of  carriages 
brought  the  party  to  the  depot,  where  they  were  met 
by  the  remainder  of  the  delegation.  Two  special  cars 
were  engaged  from  the  Pittsburg  &  Fort  Wayne  Rail- 
road Company  to  take  the  Archbishop  and  his  escort 
as  far  as  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  that  being  the  distance  the 
delegation  had  decided  to  accompany  him.  The  com- 
mittee in  charge  of  the  railroad  arrangements  consisted 
of  the  Vicar  General  and  Messrs.  W.  J.  Onahan  and 
W.  P.  Rend.  Owing  to  some  misunderstanding  as  to 
the  time  of  departure  the  party  was  delayed  over  half 
an  hour  at  the  depot,  as  the  train  did  not  leave  until 
5:40.  The  only  special  invitations  issued  by  the  com- 
mittee of  management  had  been  to  the  parish  priests 
of  the  city  and  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Feehan- 
ville  Training  School,  the  latter  being  accompanied  by 
a  few  prominent  Catholic  laymen. 

"The  following  is  the  list  of  clergymen  who  accom- 
panied the  Archbishop  on  the  special  cars:  Vicar  Gen- 
eral Conway,  Chancellor  Gill,  Rev.  Fathers  Fitzsim- 
mons,  Waldron,  Noonan,  Fisher,  Hodnett,  Cashman, 
Mackin,  H.  McGuire,  Galligan,  Clement  Venn,  Dow- 
ling,  Murray,  Bruton,  Barrett,  Horigan,  Keenan,  of 
Amboy;  Mackin,  of  Elgin;  Maloney,  Lyons,  D.  F.  Mc- 
Guire, Sigourski,  Barzinski,  Butler,  Gormley,  Mc- 
Donald, Nemesius,  Demarteau,  Dunn,  Flanagan,  Dor- 
ney, Meehan,  Tynan,  and  Byrne. 

"The  lay  delegation  accompanying  the  party  to  Val- 
paraiso was  as  follows:  Brother  Telion,  Director  of 
the  Feehanville  Training  School;  Brother  Adjutor, 
Principal  of  St.  Patrick's  Academy;  Patrick  Egan, 
Alexander  Sullivan,  Bernard  Curtis,  P.  H.  Rice,  W. 
J.  Onahan,  B.  F.  Brenmer,  J.  M.  Gillespie,  J.  B.  Sul- 


THE   ARCHBISHOP  125 

livan,  Th.  Brennan,  Z.  P.  Brosseau,  J.  J.  McGrath, 
Andrew  Miller,  W.  J.  English,  J.  H.  Burke,  J.  P. 
O'Connor,  Joseph  McDonald,  John  M.  Collins,  James 
Conlan,  Jr.;  T.  J.  Kinsella,  Henry  Powers,  P.  Bren- 
nock,  W.  P.  Rend,  Charles  McDonald,  Peter  Conlan. 
The  press  was  represented  by  a  reporter  of  'The  Trib- 
une.' 

"The  train  reached  Valparaiso  about  7:45.  The  fare- 
wells were  of  a  most  informal  character,  consisting  al- 
together of  hearty,  though  confused,  handshakings  and 
fervent  prayers  and  good  wishes  on  both  sides.  Hav- 
ing finished  the  last  of  the  handshakings  on  the  front 
platform  of  the  first  special  car,  the  Archbishop  passed 
into  the  parlor  car  to  which  the  specials  were  attached — 
accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Chancellor  Gill,  who  went 
with  him  as  far  as  New  York — waved  a  last  farewell 
to  the  crowd  and  the  train  shot  forth  into  the  darkness. 

"The  party  was  obliged  to  wait  some  time,  at  the  sta- 
tion for  an  engine  to  be  got  ready  to  draw  them  back 
to  the  city.  It  was  a  cold  night,  and  the  big  delegation 
got  hungry.  Inquiry  developed  the  fact  that  there  was 
a  lunch-stand  and  alleged  dining-hall  in  the  vicinity, 
the  property  of  one  Joe  Hauck,  and  an  immediate  move 
was  made  in  that  direction.  Joe  was  evidently  prepared. 
He  had  an  enormous  mountain  of  sandwiches,  sardines, 
and  pie  behind  the  bar,  and  six  slick  assistants — three 
male  and  three  female — with  decks  cleared  and  sails 
trimmed  all  ready  for  action.  But  neither  Joe  Hauck's 
establishment,  nor  Valparaiso  for  that  matter,  was  ever 
before  struck  by  such  a  religious  cyclone.  Such  a  bus- 
tling, energetic,  good-humored,  all-devouring  mass  of 
humanity — the  wealth  and  piety  of  Catholic  Chicago — 
packed  before  a  little  country  lunch-bar  and  clamoring 
for  "vittels"  was  probably  never  seen  before.  In  ten 

10 


126       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

seconds  the  milk  was  consumed.  Five  seconds  later  the 
pie  was  out.  In  ten  more,  sandwiches  went  up  100  per 
cent.  When  the  warm  coffee  ran  out,  lukewarm  and 
then  cold  coffee  was  served  instead — the  pump  was  just 
at  the  door.  A  meek-eyed  rector  hustled  the  quondam 
Treasurer  of  the  Irish  Land  League  for  a  section  of 
squash  pie ;  the  President  of  the  Irish  National  League 
fought  a  duel  with  a  doctor  of  divinity  for  possession  of 
the  cream  jug,  and  the  highly  respected  head  of  a 
prominent  church  waged  war  with  a  persistent  reporter 
over  a  plate  of  leathery  doughnuts.  It  was  certainly 
a  hungry  crowd;  and  everybody  enjoyed  his  meal  like  a 
schoolboy  at  a  picnic.  Some  of  the  laymen  were  proud, 
and  waited  in  cold  dignity  in  the  dining-hall  until  the 
waiters  responded,  but  the  majority  of  the  party  knew 
how  to  take  things  as  they  came.  The  six  flustered  at- 
tendants were  driven  nearly  out  of  their  wits.  The 
mainmast  of  the  three-pronged  bangs  which  one  of  the 
girls  wore,  stood  out  as  stiff  and  solid  as  the  horn  on 
Barnum's  unicorn.  The  blue  ribbons  attached  to  the 
long  plaits  of  another  girl  fluttered  and  spun  like  those 
on  the  caudal  appendage  of  a  prize  lamb  at  a  State 
Fair.  Good  time  was  made  on  the  return  trip,  the  party 
reaching  the  city  by  9:30." 


OFTHfc 
»EBSITY  OF  ILUIDIS 


THE   VERY  REV.  P.  J.  CON  WAY 
Vicar    General    of    Archbishop    Feehau 

(1881-1888) 
Died  July   1,   1888 


CHAPTER  XI 

HIS  RETURN  FROM  ROME 

A  LARGE  DELEGATION  MEETS  HIM — OBJECT  OF  HIS  MISSION  IN 
ROME — DETAILED  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  RECEPTION  AT  VALPARAISO 
— THE  SPEECHES — HIS  RETURN  TO  CHICAGO — THE  GRAND 
DEMONSTRATION — HE  SPEAKS  IN  THE  CATHEDRAL — THE  WEL- 
COME FROM  HIS  CLERGY — ADDRESS  OF  FATHER  CONWAY — THE 
WELCOME  FROM  THE  LAITY — ADDRESS  BY  HON.  HENRY  F 
SHERIDAN — SPEECHES  IN  DIFFERENT  LANGUAGES. 

DURING  the  absence  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  the  peo- 
ple of  Chicago  had  decided  that  his  arrival  home  should 
be  the  occasion  of  a  demonstration  suggestive  of  their 
love  and  respect  for  the  man,  their  reverence  for  his 
holy  office,  and  their  sense  of  the  importance  of  the 
mission  he  had  undertaken.  And  the  demonstration, 
notwithstanding  the  inclement  weather,  fulfilled  all 
anticipations. 

A  large  delegation  of  clergymen  and  others  met  him 
at  Valparaiso  and  escorted  him  to  the  city.  Thronging 
the  railway  depot  and  lining  the  sidewalks  of  the  streets 
he  traversed,  were  thousands  of  laymen  eager  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  his  smiling  countenance  and  ready  to  cheer 
upon  the  approach  of  his  tall  form.  They  desired  not 
only  to  show  their  respect  for  the  ability  with  which  he 
had  performed  his  official  duties,  but  also  to  acknowledge 
their  affection  because  of  the  many  kindly  acts  by 
which  he  had  endeared  himself  to  all  in  his  dio- 
cese. Their  sincerity  could  not  be  doubted;  the  men 
who  bowed  in  reverence  as  they  greeted  him  in  Val- 
paraiso but  showed  their  sentiment  in  a  different  man- 
ner from  those  who  cheered  him  at  the  depot  and  the 
thousands  that  escorted  him  to  the  Archiepiscopal  pal- 

127 


128       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

ace.  His  Grace  at  all  times  presented  a  striking  appear- 
ance, but  never,  perhaps,  did  he  appear  to  better  advan- 
tage than  when  surrounded  by  the  vast  crowd  that 
welcomed  him  on  this  occasion.  A  flush  of  pleasure  was 
spread  over  his  clear-cut  features  and  his  eyes  sparkled 
with  animation.  Erect,  as  ever,  his  head  towered  above 
all  others  about  him. 

The  mission  of  His  Grace  and  other  American  Arch- 
bishops to  Rome  had  been  of  a  purely  spiritual  char- 
acter, but  had  given  rise  to  much  interest  and  curiosity. 
Yet  the  conference  of  the  Archbishops  had  been  in  a 
large  degree  only  preliminary  to  work  to  be  done  in 
this  country,  of  the  kind  transacted  by  a  committee 
which  reports  to  a  higher  body  whose  conclusions  must 
subsequently  receive  the  approval  of  a  person  of  still 
greater  authority.  The  deliberations  of  the  prelates  had 
been  secret.  On  their  arrival  in  Rome  they  were  separ- 
ately received  in  audience  by  the  Holy  Father,  Leo 
XIII,  and  afterwards  brought  in  conference  upon  the 
affairs  of  the  Church  in  America.  The  Holy  Father 
had  long  desired  that  every  important  question  of  dis- 
cipline and  Church  regulation  should  be  considered  and 
determined  so  as  to  conform  to  the  altered  conditions 
of  the  country  and  the  rapid  growth  and  increased  im- 
portance of  the  Church  in  America. 

Many  grave  questions  had  engaged  the  attention 
of  the  American  prelates.  First — The  question  of 
the  financial  status  of  the  Church,  and  the  import- 
ance of  placing  Church  property  upon  a  more  satis- 
factory footing.  Second — The  necessity  for  fixed  rules 
of  ecclesiastical  law  and  discipline,  as  defining  the  rights 
of  pastors  and  the  authority  of  bishops.  Third — The 
special  importance  of  extending  the  scope  of  Catholic 
education  throughout  the  country — systematizing  the 


HIS  RETURN  FROM  ROME       129 

methods  and  elevating  the  standard  in  Catholic  schools, 
and  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  the  Holy  Father,  as 
expressed,  that  education  should  be  made  "more  Chris- 
tian." Fourth — The  necessity  for  the  creation  of  new 
episcopal  sees  to  meet  the  advancing  growth  of  Catholic 
populations,  especially  in  the  West. 

Daily  meetings  had  been  held  by  the  council  under 
the  presidency  of  the  Cardinal-Prefect  of  the  Prop- 
aganda, at  which  these  and  other  questions  of  a  cognate 
character  were  considered  and  discussed. 

The  work  of  the  conference  was  the  subject  of  gen- 
eral conversation  on  the  way  out  to  Valparaiso  to  meet 
Archbishop  Feehan.  The  importance  of  the  conference 
as  affecting  the  polity  of  the  Church  in  America  was 
generally  recognized.  Nearly  one  hundred  persons  were 
in  the  train,  occupying  three  coaches.  The  clergymen 
in  attendance  were:  Very  Rev.  P.  J.  Conway,  V.  G., 
and  Fathers  Hodnett,  Waldron,  Sr.,  Riordan,  Dorney, 
Erhard,  McGuire,  Morini,  Flanagan,  Galligan,  Bar- 
rett, Butler,  Corbett,  S.  J.,  Waldron,  Jr.,  Fisher,  Smith, 
Barzinski,  O'Neill,  Meyer,  Bronsgeest,  S.  J.,  Kalvelage, 
Guren,  Dunne,  Mackin,  Cashman,  Dowling,  Van  de 
Laar,  P.  Butler,  Meurer,  Noonan,  Terry. 

Others  present  were:  Brother  Telion,  P.  H.  Rice, 
Z.  P.  Brosseau,  D.  F.  Bremner,  Andrew  Mullen,  Th. 
Connelly,  and  Deputy  Sheriff  J.  H.  Burke,  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  St.  Mary's  Training  School; 
Brother  Adjutor,  Mayor  Harrison,  Chief  of  Police, 
Austin  J.  Doyle,  Sheriff  Seth  Hanchett,  Elmer  Wash- 
burn,  Judges  Shepherd,  Moran  and  Prendergast,  Aid. 
Quinn,  Frank  Drake,  W.  J.  Onahan,  Alex.  Sullivan, 
Henry  Greenebaum,  A.  C.  Hesing,  M.  J.  Dunn,  Daniel 
Scully,  Bernard  McDevitt,  Hugh  J.  Gillespie,  John 


130       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

McConnell,  James  McAndrews,  M.  A.  Devine,  M.  J. 
Keen,  William  McCoy,  P.  J.  McGrath,  M.  W.  Kerwin, 
William  J.  English,  Joseph  E.  Elder,  John  Cook,  C. 
W.  Adams,  Henry  McGurn,  John  Prindiville,  Denis 
O'Connor,  Gregory  Vigeant,  E.  D.  Winslow,  J.  J.  Mc- 
Grath, Richard  J.  Murphy,  E.  Colbert,  Richard  O'Con- 
nell,  Charles  C.  Plamondon,  F.  W.  Young,  D.  J.  Gal- 
lery, Michael  Sullivan,  Henry  T.  Mullen,  Richard 
Sullivan,  David  Hayes,  M.  F.  Donohue,  Peter  M. 
King,  John  Keely,  and  Peter  Conlan. 

Arrived  in  Valparaiso  the  party  went  to  the  residence 
of  Father  Michael  O'Reilly,  of  St.  Patrick's  Church, 
where  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  awaited  them.  There 
they  reverently  kissed  his  ring  and  inquired  anxiously 
as  to  his  stay  abroad.  The  meeting  gave  him  happiness, 
he  said,  and  his  pleasurable  emotion  was  betokened  by 
his  glowing  countenance.  There  were  some  in  the  party 
who  were  very  intimate  friends  of  his,  and  when  they 
spoke  to  him  it  was  pleasing  to  note  his  kindly  smile  and 
witness  the  cordial  grasp  of  his  hand.  He  told  his 
friends  that  he  had  had  an  enjoyable  voyage,  and  that 
his  stay  in  Rome  had  been  as  pleasant  as  it  was  prof- 
itable. The  "Eternal  City"  had  ever  been  attractive 
to  him,  and  so  when  in  it,  he  never  tired  of  viewing  the 
thousands  of  unique  features  it  presented.  He  had 
called  on  the  Pope  frequently  and  assured  the  Holy 
Father  of  the  loyalty  of  his  people  in  America.  The 
Pope  had  evinced  great  interest  in  the  institutions  of 
this  country,  and  had  manifested  surprise  at  its  won- 
drous, rapid  growth.  The  pleasure  the  Archbishop  felt 
on  again  meeting  his  friends,  he  said,  he  could  scarcely 
express  in  words. 

At  12  o'clock  the  whole  party  sat  down  to  a  dinner 
furnished  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Feehanville 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  131 

Training  School  in  the  Central  hotel.  Archbishop  Fee- 
han  presided  over  one  of  the  long  tables,  while  Vicar 
General  Con  way  presided  over  the  other.  Mayor  Har- 
rison sat  at  the  right  of  the  Archbishop,  and  during  the 
progress  of  the  meal  the  two  had  a  very  pleasant  con- 
versation. After  dinner,  Archbishop  Feehan,  deeming 
a  few  words  in  acknowledgment  of  the  tribute  to  him 
appropriate,  arose  and  said: 

"Since  I  started  out  upon  my  homeward  journey 
from  the  Eternal  City  my  mind  has  often  dwelled  upon 
the  emotions  of  pleasure  I  would  experience  at  being 
at  home  with  my  dear  people  once  again.  But  I  assure 
you  I  had  not  the  slightest  idea  that  I  would  receive 
anything  like  the  demonstration  of  heartfelt  welcome 
which  you  exhibit  today.  I  assure  you  your  kindly 
dispositions  are  extremely  gratifying  to  me.  The  Chief 
Pastor  of  souls,  whose  presence  I  have  so  recently  quit- 
ted, has  commissioned  me  the  messenger  of  his  expres- 
sions of  love  and  gratitude  to  you  for  your  oft-repeated 
expressions  of  loyalty  to  and  sympathy  for  him.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  telling  the  Holy  Father  of  your  strength, 
faith,  and  perseverance  in  all  things  tending  towards 
the  glory  of  God  and  His  Church  in  this  our  glorious 
western  country.  He  asked  me  not  only  about  our  reli- 
gious situation,  but  also  about  our  relations  with  the 
municipal  and  federal  governments,  and  he  was  rejoiced 
to  learn  of  our  peaceful  relations  with  both.  Again, 
my  dear  friends,  I  desire  to  express  to  you  my  sincere 
thanks  for  your  kindness  extended  to  me." 

Mayor  Harrison  was  then  called  upon  for  a  speech 
and  responded  as  follows:  "As  mayor  of  Chicago  I 
am  come  to  bid  you  a  hearty  welcome  in  this  our  Indiana 
suburb  of  Chicago.  I  assure  you  that  it  is  with  a  feel- 
ing of  pleasure  that  I  meet  and  welcome  you  upon  your 


return  from  Rome.  Chicago  is  a  cosmopolitan  city, 
and  its  inhabitants  recognize  that  there  is  one  universal 
church,  whether  it  be  called  this  or  that.  I  assure  you 
that  during  your  absence  Chicago  has  been  kept  in  the 
right  course.  For  that  I  take  considerable  credit  my- 
self. I  have  watched  over  your  flock.  ( Laughter. )  Yes, 
and  believing  that  watching  the  shepherds  might  keep 
the  sheep  straight,  I  watched  the  shepherds.  During 
your  absence  I  have  always  had  a  watchful  eye  upon 
the  clergy,  and  have  frequently  rode  down  Adams  Street 
— past  Father  Terry's  church.  (Laughter.)  I  think 
he  knew  I  had  my  eye  upon  him.  Between  him  and  my- 
self I  can  assure  you  we  have  managed  to  keep  your 
flock  in  the  path  of  rectitude.  (Laughter.)  Permit  me 
to  say  that  I  feel  I  am  saying  nothing  wrong  when  I 
say  all  the  people  of  Chicago  regard  the  Archbishop's 
as  a  position  of  importance,  and  feel  since  your  advent 
among  us  that  the  mantle  has  not  fallen  on  unworthy 
shoulders;  and  they  believe  that  the  Catholic  Church  is 
always  on  the  side  of  justice  and  morality.  I  am  glad 
that  you  assured  the  Holy  Father  of  the  cordial  feel- 
ings existing  between  the  clergy  and  the  civil  authorities. 
Again  I  bid  you  welcome  among  us." 

Calls  were  made  for  Vicar  General  Conway,  who 
said:  "Time  does  not  permit  me  to  express  our  regards 
for  His  Grace.  Thirty  thousand  men  are  waiting  to 
welcome  him.  Not  only  they,  but  thousands  of  others 
will  bid  him  a  hearty  welcome  and  wish  that  he  may  live 
long  to  preside  over  the  grand  diocese  of  Chicago." 

At  1  o'clock  the  procession,  which  was  to  meet  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  at  the  depot  in  Chicago  and  escort  him 
to  the  Cathedral  and  thence  to  his  residence,  began 
to  form  at  its  rendezvous  at  the  corner  of  Desplaines 
and  Adams  streets  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Peter 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  133 

Kiolbassa,  grand  marshal  of  the  occasion.  From 
every  direction  came  crowds  of  people  to  witness  the 
grand  display,  seeming  to  have  the  assurance  that 
it  would  not  only  be  an  imposing  affair,  but 
probably  exceed  anything  of  the  kind  ever  be- 
fore presented  by  the  Catholic  citizens  of  Chi- 
cago. On  Adams  and  Desplaines  streets  for  several 
blocks  in  every  direction  the  sidewalks  were  a  mass  of 
moving  beings,  each  one  of  whom  seemed  to  be  pressing 
forward  to  secure  the  best  place  for  a  full  view  of  the 
procession  as  it  was  being  formed  and  made  ready  to 
move  toward  the  depot.  In  addition  to  the  thousands 
that  crowded  the  sidewalks,  the  streets  were  lined  on 
both  sides,  leaving  barely  room  for  the  societies  to  pass 
through,  eight  abreast,  as  they  came  from  the  West, 
South,  and  North  sides  to  take  their  respective  posi- 
tions. The  grand  marshal  and  his  aids  stationed  them- 
selves at  the  rendezvous,  and  as  the  different  societies 
approached,  assigned  them  their  places,  but  the  arrange- 
ment had  been  so  complete  beforehand  that  it  was  hardly 
necessary  for  the  aids  even  to  make  a  suggestion,  as  each 
society  seemed  to  know  the  exact  spot  at  which  the  head 
of  its  column  should  stop  in  order  to  carry  out  the  plan 
which  had  been  agreed  upon.  As  the  societies  ap- 
proached headed  by  a  brass  band  which  was  playing 
an  appropriate  selection,  banners  waving  and  rich  re- 
galia bedecking  the  person  of  each  member,  the  scene 
was  so  imposing  as  to  challenge  the  admiration  of  the 
thousands  of  spectators  who  recognized  in  the  move- 
ment an  ovation  that  should  cause  every  citizen  to  look 
with  pride  upon  the  great  Catholic  manifestation  in 
honor  of  their  beloved  Archbishop  upon  his  return  from 
Rome. 

By  1 :30  o'clock  the  aids  reported  to  the  grand  marshal 


134        THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

that  every  society  had  arrived  and  had  taken  its 
proper  place  for  moving  into  line  as  soon  as  the  proces- 
sion was  ready  to  start  for  the  Fort  Wayne  depot.  The 
grand  marshal  then  rode  down  the  lines  on  Adams  and 
Desplaines  streets  and  back  to  the  head  of  the  column, 
when  he  gave  the  order  to  march.  The  order  was  car- 
ried out  down  the  line,  and  almost  simultaneously 
every  band  in  the  procession  began  to  play,  and  the 
great  body  of  Catholic  societies  moved  east  on  Adams 
Street  until  the  head  rested  at  the  entrance  to  the  Adams 
Street  bridge  on  Canal  Street,  where  it  halted  just  as 
the  train  on  the  Fort  Wayne  road  came  steaming  into 
the  station,  with  Archbishop  Feehan  and  his  escort  on 
board.  By  this  time  the  space  in  the  depot  below  was 
packed  with  people  anxious  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
Archbishop  as  he  alighted  from  the  train.  When  he 
stepped  from  the  platform  the  immense  crowd  cheered 
loudly,  and  as  soon  as  he  reached  the  sidewalk  he  was 
again  greeted  with  deafening  cheers  from  the  thousands 
that  thronged  the  streets  for  squares  in  every  direction. 

As  soon  as  the  Archbishop  and  the  committee  were 
seated  in  the  carriages  that  were  in  waiting  they  were 
given  their  position  in  the  procession,  and  it  at  once 
started  for  the  Cathedral.  The  order  in  which  the  so- 
cieties were  arranged  was  as  follows: 

First  Division — Grand  Marshal  Kiolbassa  and  staff, 
followed  by  a  cordon  of  police.  Knights  of  St.  George, 
St.  Joseph's  Society,  St.  Benedict's  Society,  St.  John's 
Young  Men's  Society,  Knights  of  St.  George,  St.  Vin- 
cent de  Paul  Society,  St.  Alphonsus'  Society,  St. 
Michael's  Society,  St.  Matthias'  Society,  St.  Michael's 
Literary  Young  Men's  Society,  St.  Peter's  Society,  St. 
Aloysius  Young  Men's  Society,  St.  Stanislaus'  Young 
Men's  Society,  St.  Francis'  Society,  St.  John's  Society, 
St.  Bonifacius'  Liebesbund,  St.  Anthony's  Society. 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  135 

Second  Division — St.  Stanislaus  Kostka's  Society,  St. 
Stanislaus'  Young  Men's  Society,  St.  Joseph's  Young 
Men's  Society,  Holy  Trinity  Society,  Sacred  Heart  So- 
ciety, Holy  Cross  Society,  St.  Joseph's  Married  Men's 
Society,  St.  John  Baptist's  Society,  Knights  of  St. 
Casimir,  St.  Adalbert's  Society,  Sacred  Heart  of  Mary 
Society,  Holy  Name  Society,  St.  John  Kantius'  Society, 
Italian  Society,  French  Society. 

Third  Division— Knights  of  St.  Vitus,  St.  Wences- 
laus'  Society,  St.  Francis'  Society,  SS.  Cyril  and  Me- 
thodius' Society,  Knights  of  St.  Wenceslaus,  St.  John 
Nepomuc  Society,  Knights  of  St.  George,  St.  Procop 
Society,  St.  Adalbert's  Society,  St.  Aloysius'  Young 
Men's  Society. 

The  fourth  division  was  made  up  of  temperance  and 
benevolent  societies,  and  the  fifth  division  consisted  ex- 
clusively of  Irish  societies,  seven  thousand  in  number, 
among  them  the  Clan-na-Gaels. 

Following  these  came  the  carriages,  and  the  one  in 
which  the  Archbishop  was  seated  was  surrounded  by 
a  company  of  Hibernian  Rifles,  who  acted  as  a  guard 
of  honor. 

The  sidewalks  along  the  line  of  march  were  filled  with 
masses  of  spectators,  who  occupied  the  curbs  and 
crowded  the  stoops  in  front  of  houses.  An  idea  of  the 
magnitude  of  the  procession  can  be  gained  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  one  hour  and  seventeen  minutes  cross- 
ing the  Adams  Street  bridge.  It  is  estimated  that  it  was 
four  miles  long  and  that  twenty  thousand  men  were  in 
line. 

Long  before  the  procession  arrived  at  the  Cathedral 
the  sacred  edifice  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity 
with  Protestants  and  Catholics  alike,  all  anxious  to  get 
a  glimpse  of  the  returned  prelate.  Every  available  seat 


136       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

was  occupied,  the  aisles  were  filled,  and  the  space  in 
front  of  the  altar  was  crowded  until  it  looked  like  an 
impossibility  to  find  space  for  another,  while  on  the  out- 
side there  were  thousands  pressing  forward  to  gain  ad- 
mission, but  were  kept  back  by  a  cordon  of  police.  Very 
few  members  of  the  societies  succeeded  in  getting  in- 
side the  church. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Archbishop  the  choir  sang 
the  "Te  Deum"  after  which  he  stepped  to  the  front  of 
the  altar  attired  in  rochet  and  cope  and  was  greeted 
by  the  immense  audience  with  becoming  reverence,  the 
people  rising  to  their  feet  in  honor  of  the  man  to  whom 
they  came  to  do  honor  upon  his  return  to  his  people 
after  an  absence  of  four  months.  It  was  plainly  to  be 
seen  that  his  people  were  devoted  to  him  in  such  a 
degree  as  to  make  him  fully  realize  the  high  and  re- 
sponsible position  which  he  occupied  in  the  Church.  It 
was  several  minutes  before  he  began  his  address. 

He  said  it  gave  him  great  pleasure  to  witness  such 
a  manifestation  upon  his  return  from  a  visit  to  the  High 
Pontiff  at  Rome,  where  he  had  been  called  to  confer 
with  other  American  archbishops  in  regard  to  the  neces- 
sities of  the  Church  in  this  great  country.  He  had  in 
his  trip  been  inspired  in  grace  and  hope  for  the  Church 
in  this  region  of  the  world,  which  God  had  given  him 
in  which  to  labor  for  the  good  of  His  people.  It  was 
a  supreme  satisfaction  to  him  in  his  visit  to  Rome  to 
see  and  speak  to  him  whom  God  had  placed  over  the 
Church.  His  Holiness  was  pleased  when  he  told  him 
of  the  generosity,  the  unity,  the  happy  associations  of 
the  men  of  different  climes,  different  races,  each  with 
their  own  ideas  and  prejudices,  bowed  down  by  the  same 
feeling  of  reverence  for  the  Catholic  Church,  united  to- 
gether as  one  people,  and  giving  evidence  of  the  glories 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  137 

of  Christianity  and  the  blessings  of  the  Church.  Hav- 
ing finished  the  work  that  was  given  him  in  going  to 
Rome,  and  meeting  with  those  who  were  congregated 
there,  and  getting  their  viewpoint  and  ideas,  and  find- 
ing them  all  united  together  for  the  same  object,  he 
felt  that  his  visit  had  been  one  of  great  profit  to  the 
Church.  Today,  returning  to  the  Church  from  which  he 
had  gone,  it  could  not  but  be  a  supreme  satisfaction  to 
find  such  a  greeting,  such  a  splendid  manifestation  of 
Catholic  faith,  because  he  came  from  that  city  which 
was  the  eternal  seat  of  the  Church ;  because  he  had  seen 
the  man  who  is  the  representative  of  God  in  the 
Church.  The  Holy  Father  had  sent  a  message  of 
his  heart-burning  love,  of  his  gratitude  for  the  great 
generosity  of  the  people  of  the  Church,  and  would  pray 
for  them  and  their  union,  their  perseverance  in  good, 
in  laying  the  foundation  for  the  future  and  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  Church,  and  sent  to  them  his  Apostolic  bless- 
ing. When  he  listened  to  the  words  of  His  Holiness 
and  came  away  with  a  message  from  him  who,  of  all 
others,  is  nearest  to  God,  it  must  be  a  satisfaction  to 
know  he  is  watching  over  his  people.  He  is  skilled  in 
learning  and  possessed  of  great  wisdom,  but  he  was 
astonished  to  find  in  the  great  West,  which  was  but 
recently  a  vast  wilderness,  such  a  manifestation  as  had 
been  given  to  him,  and  such  wonderful  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  the  Church. 

The  Archbishop  further  thanked  his  dear  friends  for 
their  wonderful  kindness  in  coming  out  in  such  in- 
clement weather.  It  was  to  him  a  proof  of  confidence, 
to  see  such  a  demonstration  as  had  been  made  in  honor 
of  his  return  from  Rome.  This  manifestation  would  go 
out  to  the  world  as  a  proof  of  the  faith  of  the  people, 
and  he  should  always  remember  it.  It  was  to  him  a 
source  of  strength  and  great  confidence. 


138       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

At  the  close  of  the  remarks  of  the  Archbishop,  the 
Apostolic  Benediction  was  pronounced,  and  the  great 
audience  slowly  departed  from  the  Cathedral. 

At  5  o'clock  a  reception  was  given  by  the  Archbishop 
at  his  residence.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  members 
of  the  laity,  it  was  restricted  to  the  clergy.  In  the  main 
hall  of  the  Archbishop's  house,  spanning  the  entrance 
with  letters  worked  out  in  smilax,  was  the  motto : 

ANTISTITI  NOSTRO  CARISSIMO  PACEM  FELICITATEMQUE 
MULTOS  AD  ANNOS — Sacerdotes.1 

In  the  parlor,  festooned  around  the  mantelpiece: 

SACERDOTIBUS  BONIS  ET  FIDELIBUS  SALUTEM  ET  BENE- 
DICTIONEM  APOSTOLICAM — Archiepiscopus.2 

On  the  day  after  his  arrival  the  clergymen  of  the 
Archdiocese  dined  with  His  Grace  in  the  hall  of  the 
parochial  school;  one  hundred  and  fifty  priests  were 
present.  At  the  close  of  the  dinner  Father  Conway 
stated  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  city  rectors,  held  Jan- 
uary 15th,  Fathers  J.  Waldron,  F.  Kalvelage,  J.  Mol- 
itor,  V.  Barzynski,  A.  Morino,  J.  Menella,  P.  D.  Gill, 
and  P.  J.  Conway  were  appointed  a  committee  on  an 
address  to  the  Archbishop,  which  he  had  been  requested 
to  deliver.  He  said: 

"Most  Rev.  Dear  Archbishop:  A  few  months  ago 
we  wished  you  Godspeed  on  your  journey  to  the  Eter- 
nal City.  Our  felicitations  then  flowed  from  the  warmth 
of  feeling.  They  sprang  from  the  deep  respect  chas- 
tened by  esteem,  enhanced  by  merit,  that  each  of  us 

1  To  our  most  beloved  Archbishop,  peace  and  happiness  for  many  years. 
The  priests. 

2  To   my   good   and   faithful   priests,   health   and  Apostolic   Benediction 
from  their  Archbishop. 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  139 

cherished  toward  you.  We  felt  that  we  were  parting 
with  a  prelate,  who  in  all  his  administrations  had  ap- 
peared on  every  occasion  the  very  ideal  of  the  episcopate, 
exhibiting  those  characteristics  so  tersely,  yet  so  beau- 
tifully expressed  in  the  words  of  the  Apostle,  'Oportet 
enim  episcopum  esse  non  superbum,  hospitalem,  benig- 
num,  justum,  sanctum.'  We  realized  that  we  were  los- 
ing temporarily  a  citizen  of  no  ordinary  mold — one  dis- 
tinguished by  abilities  and  varied  accomplishments — a 
man  who  stood  forth  a  tower  of  strength  in  the  com- 
munity, unsullied  in  honor,  inflexible  in  integrity,  as- 
siduous solely  for  the  culture  and  diffusion  of  virtue. 
We  knew  that  ere  long  the  broad  expanse  of  the  ocean 
would  roll  between  us  and  a  father  who  loved  us,  who 
treated  us  uniformly  with  the  fondness  and  tenderness 
of  an  indulgent  parent,  anticipating  our  wants,  and 
studying,  laboring  how  best  to  insure  success  to  our 
many  temporal  and  spiritual  projects.  Hence  our 
gathering  then  was  perfectly  natural.  It  was  the  out- 
growth of  mutual  affection.  There  was  nothing  strained 
or  forced  about  it.  The  child  simply  ran  to  its  father, 
looked  its  delight,  and  spoke  in  its  own  inimitable  way. 
Impelled  by  similar  motives,  we  flock  hither  today.  We 
come  to  testify  afresh  our  devotion  to  the  Holy  See  and 
our  attachment  to  your  person.  We  come  to  bid  you 
cordial  greeting  and  welcome  you  back  to  your  loved 
home.  Acts  are  more  eloquent  than  words.  The  tran- 
quility  throughout  the  Archdiocese  during  your  ab- 
sence is  the  best  proof  of  our  fidelity.  Fancy  pictured, 
perchance  truthfully,  that  your  thoughts  would  often 
cross  the  briny  waves,  leap  from  the  Atlantic  to  Lake 
Michigan  and  center  on  this  diocese,  its  clergy  and  peo- 
ple. 

"We  determined  to  give  no  cause  for  uneasiness — to 


140       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

furnish  no  pretext  for  anxiety.  We  resolved  to  mar  not 
the  pleasure  of  your  stay  in  Rome,  or  to  do  aught  that 
might  embitter  your  visit  to  the  Shrine  of  the  Apostles. 
At  the  summons  of  Christ's  Vicar  you  left  us.  In  obe- 
dience to  the  call  of  the  Supreme  Pontiff  you  took  your 
departure.  You  hurried  to  the  classic  banks  of  the 
yellow  Tiber  bearing  the  odors  of  the  young  yet  vigor- 
ous branches  of  faith  from  the  far  fertile  valley  of  the 
Father  of  Waters.  You  hastened  to  lay  upon  the  tomb 
of  Peter  with  your  own  hands  the  first  metropolitan 
offerings  of  Illinois.  A  sense  of  manly  pride  stole  over 
us,  touched  our  hearts,  and  banished  every  vestige  of 
grief  at  the  parting,  when  we  reflected  and  mirrored 
out  the  noble  part  Chicago  was  destined  to  assume  in 
the  deliberations  of  the  Vatican.  Your  long  experience 
in  the  episcopacy,  purity  of  motive,  prudence  and 
knowledge  were  an  earnest  pledge  unto  us  of  the  good 
that  must  accrue  to  the  American  Church  at  large, 
and  the  Province  of  Illinois  in  particular,  from  your 
participation  in  the  discussion  of  the  points  submitted 
to  the  papal  conference.  In  this  we  would  fain  believe 
that  we  are  not  mistaken. 

"Archbishop,  excellence  rarely  fails  of  recognition. 
The  sun  will  burst  through  the  clouds  be  they  ever  so 
thick  and  gloomy.  The  hived  wisdom  abiding  in  an 
humble,  retiring  life  will  gradually  exhibit  its  use,  evince 
its  beauty,  and  exert  its  power.  The  barriers  that  mod- 
esty reared  around  your  treasured  gifts  have  been  re- 
moved. The  Church  herself  has  broken  them  down,  and 
voicing  the  fiat  of  heaveA  has  placed  you  'in  the  clearest 
light  where  you  boldly  challenge  the  most  piercing  eye.' 

"We  who  hold  frequent  converse  and  are  drawn  into 
daily  communion  with  you,  see  and  praise  the  estimable 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which  you  possess.  The 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  141 

laity  of  your  charge,  the  citizens  of  the  commonwealth, 
will  admire  and  appreciate  them  too,  as  time  and  cir- 
cumstances bring  you  closer  to  them.  As  a  mark  of  sin- 
cere regard  and  a  pledge  of  future  amity,  allow  us  to 
present  you  with  a  crozier  and  other  articles  appertain- 
ing to  your  office.  These  may  serve  to  recall  your 
journey  to  Rome  and  incidents  connected  therewith. 
They  will  also  symbolize  and,  we  trust,  vividly  imprint 
on  your  memory  the  loyalty  of  your  faithful  priests.1 

"Archbishop,  may  you  live  long  to  use  them ;  may  your 
days  continue  to  be  happy  among  us,  the  evening  of 
your  existence  crowned  with  the  full  fruition  of  its  toil, 
which  those  only  know  who  have  labored  well  and  seen 
their  labors  blessed!" 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  address  the  Archbishop  arose 
and  feelingly  responded  as  follows: 

"Rev.  and  Dear  Fathers:  They  only  who  have 
journeyed  far  from  home  can  realize  the  feelings  of 
relief  and  pleasure  I  experienced  on  finding  myself  here 
on  last  Sunday  evening.  How  much  enhanced  was  that 
feeling  by  the  warm  and  splendid  reception  you  and  the 
faithful  people  were  pleased  to  give  me.  But,  not 
satisfied  with  that,  you  wished  that  we  should  meet 
here  today  in  unrestrained  social  intercourse.  It  is,  as  it 
were,  the  sons  of  the  household  assembling  together  to 
welcome  home  the  elder  brother  from  distant  lands. 
Then,  forgetting  shortcomings,  you  speak  to  him  only 
words  of  praise,  assuring  him  that  he  has  a  place  in  your 
good  wishes  and  in  your  hearts.  More  than  this,  taking 
advantage  of  the  occasion  of  my  returning  from  Rome, 
your  extreme  kindness  to  me  is  an  evidence  and  a  proof 
of  your  loyalty  and  filial  obedience  to  him  who  occupies 
the  Chair  of  Peter.  We  all  believe  him  to  be  a  great 

i  The  miter,  crdzier,  and  vestments  were  very  elegant,  and  had  been 
procured  at  a  cost  of  about  four  thousand  dollars. 

12 


ecclesiastic,  wise,  holy,  learned,  cultured.  But  when  one 
enjoys  the  privilege  of  approaching  nearer  to  him,  of 
seeing  him  face  to  face,  of  speaking  with  him,  then  one 
recognizes  fully,  with  clear  mind,  the  grand  ideas,  the 
lofty  purposes  of  the  Chief  Pastor  of  the  Catholic 
world.  I  need  not  say  how  much  I  enjoyed  and  ap- 
preciated my  visit  to  the  Eternal  City.  I  had  no 
anxiety,  the  'atra  cura'  did  not  accompany  me,  either 
on  land  or  sea.  I  had  unlimited  confidence,  which  fol- 
lowing events  justified,  in  all,  and  in  the  care  and  pru- 
dence of  him  who  so  well  and  faithfully  presided  during 
my  absence.  Before  I  left  for  Rome  you  wished  to 
manifest  to  me  your  great  generosity.  Now,  on  my 
return,  when  I  find  your  gifts  before  me  again,  I  feel 
indeed  embarrassed  and  I  know  not  in  what  words  to 
thank  you ;  they  will  always  remind  me  not  only  of  your 
great  kindness,  but  also  of  my  duty.  I  believe  that  this 
mutual  confidence  and  affection  will  continue  and  in- 
crease with  time.  For  me,  among  the  memories  of  the 
passing  years,  there  will  be  none  that  I  will  recall  with 
greater  pleasure  than  that  of  today." 

Following  the  response  of  the  Archbishop,  the  health 
of  the  following  priests  was  proposed,  all  of  whom  re- 
sponded in  addresses  appropriate  to  the  occasion :  Vicar 
General  Conway,  Chancellor  Gill,  Fathers  John  Wal- 
dron,  as  the  oldest  priest  in  the  diocese;  Kalvelage,  for 
the  German  priests;  Beaudoin,  for  the  French  priests; 
Molitor,  for  the  Bohemian  priests;  Morini,  for  the  Ital- 
ian priests;  Ryan,  for  the  Jesuit  priests;  Mackin,  for 
the  priests  outside  of  the  city. 

In  the  evening  the  hall  was  crowded  to  overflowing 
by  representatives  of  the  different  nationalities  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  it  having  been  announced  that  each 
would  present  to  Archbishop  Feehan  an  address  of  wel- 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  143 

come  and  congratulation  upon  his  return  from  his  trip 
to  Rome  and  the  conference  there  had  with  the  Amer- 
ican archbishops  in  regard  to  the  Catholic  Church  in 
America. 

The  exercises  of  the  evening  opened  with  singing  by 
the  quartet  from  the  choir  of  the  cathedral,  composed 
of  Mrs.  McGuire,  Mrs.  Sheppers,  and  Messrs.  H.  C. 
Beseler  and  Ed.  Schultze. 

Judge  Prendergast  then  delivered  an  address,  in 
which  he  said  representatives  of  each  of  the  parishes 
of  the  diocese  of  Chicago,  comprising  men  of  every 
occupation  and  of  many  nationalities,  had  assembled  to 
welcome  the  Archbishop  to  his  home  after  his  long 
journey  to  the  mother  city  of  their  common  Church. 

At  the  close  of  his  address  Judge  Prendergast  in- 
troduced Mr.  Sebastian,  who  spoke  in  German.  Mr. 
Schultze  then  sang  the  "German  Fatherland,"  after 
which  the  Hon.  Henry  F.  Sheridan,  in  behalf  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  delivered  the  following 
address : 

"Your  Grace:  On  behalf  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians  of  Cook  County,  comprising  thirty-two 
civic  divisions  and  one  regiment  of  military,  I  have  the 
great  honor  to  welcome  you  to  your  archiepiscopal  home 
after  your  long  and  arduous  journey  to  the  capital  city 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  Our  organization 
tenders  you  no  mere  ceremonious  assurances  of  official 
compliment.  Composed  of  men  nearly  all  of  whom  are 
engaged  in  mechanical  pursuits,  and  whose  few  hours 
of  leisure  are  spent  around  happy  and  bright  firesides 
at  which  the  empty  forms  of  society  are  lightly  valued, 
we  come  to  you  in  a  sincere  and  filial  spirit  to  speak 
words  of  warm  affection  based  on  our  reverence  for 
your  office  ^nd  on  our  knowledge  of  your  personal 
character.  With  the  objects  of  our  organization  you 


144       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

have  always  shown  a  generous  sympathy,  inspired  by  a 
thorough  understanding  of  our  aims  and  perfect  famil- 
iarity with  our  methods.  When  in  other  portions  of 
the  country  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  has  been 
misunderstood,  misrepresented  or  clouded,  it  has  always 
found  in  you  a  discriminating,  stanch  and  steadfast 
friend;  for  you  informed  yourself  of  its  character,  and 
neither  calumny  nor  ignorance  has  swayed  your  fidelity 
to  your  convictions.8 

"You  know  that  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians 
seeks  to  elevate  its  members  by  requiring  of  them  a 
practical  performance  of  their  duties  as  citizens,  of  their 
duties  to  their  families.  It  requires  that  they  shall  not 
wear  the  name  of  Catholic  and  neglect  those  aids  by 
which  the  Church  assists  her  children  to  advance  in 
virtue.  It  ordains  that  they  shall  deny  themselves 
pleasures  in  order  to  provide  for  the  educational  needs 
of  their  children.  It  requires  that  they  shall  especially 
cultivate  those  domestic  virtues  by  which  home  is  ren- 
dered happier,  and  which  bind,  with  mutual  obligations 
of  co-operation  and  aid,  the  families  of  men  of  common 
nationality  and  one  faith.  It  refines  and  sweetens  the 
ordinary  burdens  of  human  life  by  fostering  a  gentle 
but  practical  spirit  of  brotherhood.  It  nurses  the  sick. 
It  consoles  those  in  sorrow.  It  follows  the  dead  to  the 
Christian  grave.  It  aids  the  widow  and  watches  with 
kind  solicitude  over  the  orphan.  It  carries  out  effi- 
ciently the  temporal  work  of  mercy  as  defined  by  the 
doctrine  of  our  faith.  Justifiably,  therefore,  does  it 
enjoy  your  friendship,  worthily  may  it  avail  of  the  priv- 
ilege of  thus  welcoming  Your  Grace  to  the  scenes  of 
your  difficult  labors;  and  rightfully  may  I  presume  to 
offer  you,  in  the  name  of  its  thousands  of  members, 
their  grateful  and  affectionate  tribute. 


3  See  later  page  240. 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  145 

"It  is  true  that  it  is  not  merely  a  civic  society.  A  con- 
siderable portion  of  its  members,  while  rigorously  com- 
plying with  its  religious  and  domestic  requirements, 
have  formed  themselves  into  military  companies,  and 
regularly  engage  in  drill,  when  others  of  their  fellow 
citizens  are  enjoying  easy  pastimes.  The  banners  which 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  bore  on  Sunday  last 
to  greet  Your  Grace  were  not  exclusively  those  of  char- 
ity and  peace.  Two  national  standards  floated  among 
them.  To  render  to  the  country  of  their  adoption  effi- 
cient service  with  arms  will  ever  be  the  first  duty  of 
their  military  order.  To  live  in  the  free  republic  of  the 
United  States,  which  their  race  helped  gloriously  to 
establish,  is  the  best  political  fortune  they  can  desire. 
To  be  ready  to  maintain  it  with  their  lives,  if  necessary, 
is  only  to  imitate  the  example  of  their  fellow  country- 
men who  participated  valiantly  in  the  struggles  and 
triumphs  of  the  past. 

"There  is  another  land,  the  land  which  has  cradled  our 
race;  whose  soil  has  been  watered  for  centuries  with 
heroic  blood  not  vainly  shed;  whose  darkest  history  is 
illumined  with  starlike  episodes  of  fidelity  to  faith  at 
the  total  loss  of  everything  which  the  heart  of  man  prizes 
— the  loss  of  liberty,  the  loss  of  property,  the  loss  of 
education — producing  an  enforced  degradation  legally 
prescribed  for  them  by  infamous  masters  and  maintained 
by  the  military  power  of  an  immense  empire.  The  blood 
that  flows  in  our  veins  flows  in  yours.  The  God-planted 
instincts  of  resistance  to  tyranny  are  as  keen  in  your 
heart  as  in  ours.  The  duty  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man 
to  aid  those  of  our  race  who  are  still  under  the  cruel 
clutch  of  that  malignant  and  hypocritical  power  is  as 
fervently  felt  by  you  as  by  us.  If  it  should  be  in  the 
decrees  of Nthe  future  that  the  arms  which  we  carry  shall 
be  borne  for  the  cause  of  our  native  land,  if  our  swords 


146       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

are  ever  to  leave  their  impatient  scabbards  to  rise  under 
the  great  standard  of  our  isle  of  saints,  we  should  not 
wish  a  repetition  of  that  desperate  but  splendid  period, 
when,  the  Dane  being  upon  our  coasts,  with  his  brand 
flung  upon  her  temple  and  her  schools,  the  priests  of 
Ireland  laid  aside  the  insignia  of  religion  and,  seizing 
the  instruments  of  war,  intrepidly  drove  back  the  ma- 
rauders into  the  sea;  but  we  should  confidently  turn 
to  Your  Grace  for  the  blessing  upon  our  hopes  which 
you  would  not  withhold.  The  courage  which  carried 
your  fearless  spirit  into  the  deadly  haunts  of  pestilence 
in  Nashville  was  the  spirit  of  the  soldier  bishops  of  the 
hoary  and  resplendent  age  of  the  Church  in  Ireland.  It 
is  the  spirit  which  animates  alike  the  patriot  and  the 
priest;  it  is  the  spirit  which  voices  the  teaching  of  the 
Church  that  next  to  loyalty  to  God  is  loyalty  to  one's 
country  and  kind.  That  spirit  has  nobly  shone  in  your 
career,  as  priest,  as  bishop,  as  archbishop.  In  the  name, 
therefore,  of  the  great  organization  with  whose  objects 
you  are  familiar,  for  which  you  have  always  shown  cor- 
dial sympathy,  which  pays  to  your  august  office  the 
homage  to  which  its  responsibility  and  honor  are  entitled, 
and  which  throughout  its  ranks  feels  for  Your  Grace 
sincere  sentiments  of  affection  and  unqualified  con- 
fidence, I  have  the  honor  to  welcome  you  home." 

Following  the  address  by  Mr.  Sheridan,  the  program 
was  as  follows: 

Song — "Longing" Mrs.  McGuire 

Address  in  behalf  of  the  Poles Peter  Kiolbassa 

Song— "Kathleen  Mavourneen" Mrs.  Sheppers 

Address  in  behalf  of  the  Italians John  Neali 

Song— Opera  of  "Atini" 

.  . .  .Mrs.   McGuire   and   Messrs.   Beseler   and   Schultze 

Address  in  poetry Michael  Hare 

Address  in  behalf  of  the  French Joseph  Boeuf 

French  song Mrs.  Sheppers 

Address  in  behalf  of  the  Bohemians John  Druby 


HIS   RETURN   FROM   ROME  147 

The  address  in  behalf  of  the  Catholic  laity  of  Chicago 
was  made  by  William  J.  Onahan,  who  in  concluding 
his  masterful  address,  said:  "I  see  among  your  chil- 
dren here  tonight  one  who  contributed  to  the  erection 
of  the  first  Catholic  Church  in  Chicago  fifty  years  ago, 
Mr.  A.  Taylor;  and  another  who  is  the  veteran  colored 
Catholic  of  the  diocese,  Mr.  Armstrong;  who  have  come 
to  participate  in  this  great  manifestation  and  to  bid  you 
welcome."  The  two  came  forward  and  were  graciously 
received  by  the  Archbishop,  amid  the  deafening  cheers 
of  the  immense  audience. 

The  venerable  Archbishop  then  stepped  to  the  front 
of  the  rostrum  and  was  greeted  by  the  entire  audience 
rising  to  their  feet,  and  manifesting  their  joy  by  the 
clapping  of  their  hands.  He  raised  his  hand  and  mo- 
tioned them  to  their  seats,  after  which  he  said  he  could 
not  imagine  an  occasion  of  greater  interest  and  higher 
meaning  than  the  one  at  which  he  had  been  permitted 
to  be  present  and  participate  in.  He  referred  to  the 
great  privilege  he  had  enjoyed  in  being  permitted 
to  visit  ancient  Rome,  where  one  could  not  but  feel  the 
inspiration  of  the  place.  He  had  knelt  at  the  tombs 
of  the  Apostles,  had  seen  the  Catacombs,  and  had  wit- 
nessed the  undying  evidences  of  the  Catholic  faith.  It 
was  from  them  the  teachers  were  sent  out  to  inform  the 
people  of  religion  and  to  civilize  and  evangelize  the 
world.  Upon  his  return  all  nationalities  had  come  out, 
inspired  by  the  great  principle  of  faith,  speaking  the 
tongues  of  many  nations — all  in  one — saying  to  him  his 
was  the  faith  of  Rome.  They  had  come  in  the  newest 
and  freest  of  the  nations  to  say  that  this  ancient  religion 
was  theirs.  He  had  listened  to  the  noblest  thoughts, 
expressed  in  eloquent  words,  coming  from  noble  men 
who  love  God,  and  these  men,  speaking  in  many  tongues, 

x 


148       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

had  bid  him  welcome  home  and  he  confessed  that  he 
could  but  feel  a  great  pride  in  the  occasion.  The  splen- 
did manifestation  would  be  to  him  a  source  of  inspira- 
tion and  strength,  and  cause  him  to  feel  firm  in  the  con- 
viction that  he  was  surrounded  by  a  strong  element  of 
Catholic  people.  He  expressed  gratification  at  such  a 
warm  manifestation  of  feeling,  and  said  the  occasion 
would  mark  an  important  era  in  the  history  of  the 
Catholic  Church  in  Chicago. 

The  Chairman  then  announced  the  exercises  closed, 
and  the  meeting  adjourned.  During  the  evening  there 
had  been  much  enthusiasm  manifested,  every  address 
and  song  being  received  with  prolonged  applause. 


CHAPTER  XII 
ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE 

THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  BALTIMORE  COUNCIL — THE  ARCH- 
BISHOP'S  INTEREST  IN  EDUCATION — THE  SCHOOLS  HE  BUILT 
IN  CHICAGO — THE  GREAT  FINANCIER — A  CELEBRATED  LAW 
CASE — PROGRESS  OF  THE  ARCHDIOCESE — THE  FIRST  DIOCESAN 
SYNOD — PERMANENT  RECTORS  APPOINTED — BOARD  OF  SCHOOL 
EXAMINERS — RURAL  DEANS. 

THE  labors  of  the  American  archbishops,  the  prog- 
ress of  religion  among  their  flocks,  and  the  prospect  of 
the  coming  Baltimore  Council  afforded  Leo  XIII,  amid 
his  many  cares  and  bitter  trials,  a  subject  of  unspeak- 
able joy.  He  had  presented  to  the  Archbishops  before 
they  left  Rome  a  full  length  portrait  of  himself,  to  be 
hung  in  the  hall  where  they  were  to  deliberate,  so  that, 
as  he  said  to  them,  he  might,  in  a  manner,  preside  over 
this  great  national  council — the  greatest  till  then  ever 
held  in  the  New  World.  As  the  venerable  Cardinal 
McCloskey,  Archbishop  of  New  York,  was  prevented 
by  ill  health  from  being  present  in  the  council,  the  Holy 
Father  appointed  Archbishop  Gibbons,  of  Baltimore, 
Apostolic  Delegate  and  President  of  the  Council. 

On  Sunday,  November  9,  1884,  the  great  council 
opened.  On  the  day  before  Leo  XIII,  without  waiting 
for  the  message  which  the  council  intended  to  send  him, 
telegraphed:  "The  Holy  Father  sends  his  blessing  to 
the  Fathers  of  the  Plenary  Council  which  begins  today. 
— Louis  Cardinal  Jacobini."  To  which  Archbishop  Gib- 
bons answered:  "Eighty-three  prelates  assembled  in 
council,  return  thanks  to  Your  Holiness  and  assure  you 
of  their  dutifulness  and  devotion/' 

149 


150       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Foremost  among  these  eighty-three  prelates,  the 
fathers  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States,  was  our 
beloved  Archbishop  Feehan,  who  had  gone  to  Baltimore, 
accompanied  by  the  Very  Rev.  P.  J.  Conway,  V.  G., 
and  the  Rev.  John  Waldron,  pastor  of  St.  John's 
Church. 

Of  the  proceedings  of  the  council  we  need  not  say 
much  to  the  reader.  All  the  matter  therein  discussed 
had  been  printed  beforehand,  carefully  discussed  by  the 
archbishops  and  bishops,  assisted  by  a  body  of  theolo- 
gians and  canonists  summoned  from  all  parts  of  the 
Union.  In  the  decrees  thus  prepared  only  certain 
amendments  and  corrections  were  introduced.  But  as 
all  this  was  to  remain  as  the  law  of  the  American  Church, 
every  item,  every  iota  was  something  maturely  to  be 
weighed.  Then  the  work  and  the  workmen  for  every 
session  and  private  assemblage  had  been  distributed  be- 
fore the  council  opened,  so  that  everything  fell  at  once 
into  its  own  place,  and  the  great  living  organism  went 
through  its  functions  without  hesitation  or  jar  from  the 
first  hour  to  the  last.  The  council  closed  on  the  7th  of 
December. 

Among  the  subjects  on  which  the  council  expended 
most  care  and  thought  was  that  of  education — education 
in  its  widest  and  most  comprehensive  sense:  the  educa- 
tion of  the  clergy  and  that  of  the  laity  in  all  its  grades. 
This  was  also  Archbishop  Feehan's  chief  concern.  A 
lover  of  harmony  and  peace,  and  under  a  placid  and 
retiring  exterior,  the  good  Archbishop's  long  and  event- 
ful life  was  but  a  determined  and  unceasing  conflict 
against  all  the  world's  forces  of  darkness  and  evil  which 
threatened  the  well-being,  both  temporal  and  spiritual, 
of  the  precious  flock  committed  to  his  care.  He  was  an 
educator  of  the  highest  order  of  ability  and  judgment, 


ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE  151 

and  an  uncompromising  opponent  of  the  State  system 
or  any  other  system  of  mental  development  which  did 
not  provide  for  the  moral  and  religious  training  of  the 
child.  The  evidences  of  his  enthusiastic  zeal  in  the  cause 
of  religious  education  are  seen  in  the  numerous  educa- 
tional institutions  established  during  his  administration; 
St.  Mary's  Training  School,  St.  Patrick's  Academy,  the 
Josephinum,  the  LaSalle  Institute,  the  large  number  of 
parochial  schools  in  the  city,  the  Loretto  Academy  at 
Joliet,  St.  Francis'  Academy  at  Joliet,  and  a  number 
of  similar  institutions.  Nor  was  much  time  allowed  to 
pass  before  the  erection  of  these  establishments. 

The  solemn  installation  of  Archbishop  Feehan  in 
Chicago  had  taken  place  on  November  28,  1880.  In 
August,  1881,  St.  Vincent  Orphan  Asylum  came  into 
being,  that  grand  monument  to  Christian  charity,  which 
is  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Vincent 
de  Paul.  It  is  a  four  story  brick  building  with  a  base- 
ment, and  is  capable  of  accommodating  two  hundred 
children.  The  object  of  the  institution  is  the  care  of 
foundlings  and  other  destitute  or  orphan  children,  under 
six  years  of  age,  and  about  eight  hundred  of  these  are 
cared  for  during  the  year. 

On  September  12,  1881,  St.  Gabriel's  School  was 
established.  In  the  same  year  was  built  the  Sacred 
Heart  School  at  Lockport  and  a  large  building  (130 
x71)  was  added  to  St.  Francis  of  Assisi  School  in  Chi- 
cago. 

In  1882  the  cornerstone  was  laid  of  St.  Mary's  Train- 
ing School  in  Feehanville;  the  boys'  department  of  St. 
Francis  of  Assisi  School  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
Brothers  of  Mary ;  Notre  Dame  de  Chicago  School  was 
founded  by  the  Rev.  Father  Cote;  and  a  new  building 
erected  by  the  Benedictine  Sisters  of  SS.  Benedict  and 
Scolastica's  Academy. 


152       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

The  year  1883  saw  the  erection  of  St.  Patrick's 
School  in  South  Chicago  by  Rev.  M.  Van  de  Laar,  and 
the  opening  of  St.  Vincent's  School.  In  the  same  year 
a  new  parochial  school  building  was  erected  in  Free- 
port,  111. ;  St.  Anne's  School  was  founded  in  St.  Anne, 
111.,  and  the  well  known  St.  Patrick's  Academy  on 
Park  Avenue  was  established. 

During  the  year  1884  were  established  St.  Agnes' 
School,  the  Holy  Name  School  for  Boys,  St.  James' 
School,  St.  Malachy's  School,  Sacred  Heart  School, 
Aurora,  111.,  and  in  a  room  in  a  building  adjoining  the 
Jesuit  Church  on  West  Twelfth  Street  was  opened  the 
Ephpheta  School  for  Catholic  deaf  mutes  who  were  un- 
able to  pay  for  their  education. 

In  1885  were  built  St.  ColumbkiU's  School  for  Boys 
and  the  schools  of  St.  Aloysius,  St.  Elizabeth  and  the 
Immaculate  Conception.  During  the  following  year  a 
two  story  addition  of  105  feet  was  made  to  the  Sacred 
Heart  School  and  a  new  school  built  by  St.  Philip's 
congregation. 

In  1887  schools  were  erected  by  the  parishes  of  St. 
Agnes,  Holy  Angels,  and  Our  Lady  of  Sorrows,  while 
for  the  purpose  of  sheltering  homeless  boys  under 
twelve  years  of  age  Providence  Asylum  of  St.  Joseph 
was  established.  This  four  story  brick  building  situated 
on  spacious  grounds  fronting  Crawford  Avenue  be- 
tween Belmont  Avenue  and  Diversey  Street  is  owned 
by  the  Archdiocese  of  .Chicago.  The  establishment  is 
under  the  care  and  supervision  of  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph,  whose  parent  house  is  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  It 
is  supported  partly  by  a  monthly  allowance  from  the 
diocesan  Orphan  Fund,  and  partly  by  contributions 
from  the  charitable  public. 

At  the  same  time  the  great  financial  interests  of  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE  153 

» 

archdiocese  received  the  Archbishop's  indefatigable  at- 
tention, for  His  Grace  had  great  faith  in  Chicago  and  its 
future.  It  was  his  policy  never  to  sell  any  real  estate 
in  the  downtown  district  nor  in  the  select  residential 
portions  of  the  city.  Frequently  he  was  offered  large 
sums  for  choice  pieces  of  property,  some  of  which  came 
from  the  investments  of  the  first  Bishop  of  Chicago, 
but  his  invariable  reply  was:  "No,  we  will  not  sell. 
If  it  is  worth  that  much  to  the  ordinary  business  man 
it  is  worth  more  than  that  to  the  Catholic  Bishop  of 
Chicago.  Such  property  is  always  a  valuable  asset;  it 
makes  my  credit  stronger  and  is  a  constant  source  of 
revenue.  In  fact,  it  is  like  a  steady,  quiet  rain  .  .  . 
always  doing  good." 

His  foresight  was  evidenced  when  he  built  the  resi- 
dence on  North  State  Street  and  North  Avenue.  The 
land  was  low  and  lake  water  was  on  the  spot.  He  spent 
$15,000  in  filling  and  grading  this  piece  of  property. 
At  the  time  he  was  freely  criticized  for  his  action  and 
the  wiseacres  told  him  that  he  would  never  be  able  to 
live  in  the  house  after  it  was  built,  as  it  would  settle 
too  much  and  that  it  would  be  damp.  The  Archbishop 
said  nothing  to  all  this  except  on  one  occasion  when  he 
remarked  that  "some  persons  were  never  intended  by 
God  to  be  pioneers."  Today  North  Avenue  and  State 
Street  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  sites  of  Chicago,  out- 
side the  loop  district.  It  may  not  be  without  interest  to 
relate  here  the  fight  the  Archbishop  made  for  the  large 
block  of  property  on  Astor,  North  Avenue,  Lake  Shore 
Drive  and  Burton  Place.  Mr.  Edward  O.  Brown  in  a 
paper  read  before  the  Law  Club  of  the  City  of  Chicago, 
April  25,  1902,  relates  the  following: 

"The  Lake  Shore  Drive  is  known  to  all  of  you.  It 
was  laid  out  under  the  original  act  of  fixing  the  boun- 


daries  of  Lincoln  Park,  and  providing  for  its  improve- 
ment, passed  upon  February  8,  1869.  That  act  pro- 
vided that  certain  appraisers  provided  for  in  it  should 
lay  out  as  a  part  of  Lincoln  Park,  a  drive  200  hundred 
feet  wide,  so  that  the  east  line  should  be  the  waters  of 
Lake  Michigan,  from  Pine  Street  to  the  south  line  of 
said  park,  and  that  said  drive  thus  laid  out  should  be 
a  part  of  said  Lincoln  Park,  and  should  be  under  the 
control  and  management  and  care  of  the  Commissioners 
to  the  same  extent  as  the  said  park,  and  improved  by 
the  same  means. 

"It  was  largely  laid  out  over  the  bed  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan at  some  distance  from  the  shore,  the  shore  when  it 
was  laid  out  being  very  irregular. 

"Many  grants,  both  of  a  right  of  way  over  the  upland 
and  of  riparian  rights  from  various  owners  were  deemed 
necessary.  Very  interesting,  and,  I  may  remark,  very 
complicated  questions  must  arise  on  account  of  the 
various  reservations  and  conditions  made  in  deeds,  and 
contracts  then  entered  into,  if  an  attempt  is  ever  seri- 
ously made  to  levy  a  special  assessment  for  the  purpose 
of  reimproving  the  surface  of  the  drive,  and  I  never 
relinquished  a  lawsuit  with  more  pleasure  than  I  with- 
drew from  such  an  attempt  made  while  I  was  the  attor- 
ney of  the  Lincoln  Park  Commissioners. 

"I  will  not  detain  you  upon  any  of  these  questions, 
but  I  desire  to  refer  briefly  to  a  celebrated  case  which 
went  no  further  (in  any  contested  way,  that  is)  than 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County. 

"The  Catholic  Bishop  of  Chicago,  a  corporation  sole, 
owns  and  owned  before  1874,  when  the  driveway  was 
constructed,  a  tract  of  land  where  the  residence  of  the 
Bishop  now  stands,  bounded  on  the  north  by  North 
Avenue,  on  the  west  by  State  Street,  and  on  the  east 


ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE  155 

by  the  water  line  of  Lake  Michigan,  which  then  was 
about  Astor  Street,  one  block  west  from  the  present 
Lake  Shore  Drive.  He  gave  permission  to  the  Lincoln 
Park  Commissioners  to  construct  a  drive  over  the  bed 
of  Lake  Michigan  east  of  his  land,  but  he  claimed  that 
this  did  not  carry  any  other  than  a  mere  easement  and 
right  of  way,  and  that  his  riparian  rights  subsisted  east- 
ward of  the  new  shore  line  made  by  the  Lake  Shore 
Drive. 

"He  further  claimed  and  there  was  no  particular  ob- 
jection made  to  his  claim  at  first,  that  by  the  construc- 
tion of  the  new  shore  line  he  became  ipso  facto 
possessed  of  the  right  to  fill  out  to  it  between  Astor 
Street  and  the  western  line  of  the  new  driveway.  He 
invited  filling  and  dumping,  which  was  voluntarily 
made  by  many  persons  having  earth  and  debris  to  dis- 
pose of,  and  a  beautiful  block  of  land  sprung  into  exis- 
tence, which  may  be  still  seen  as  a  most  attractive  lawn, 
filling  the  entire  block  between  Burton  Place  and  North 
Avenue,  Astor  Street  and  the  Lake  Shore  Drive. 

"The  Commissioners  of  Lincoln  Park  deemed  it  de- 
sirable to  build  a  sort  of  'circus,'  as  the  English  would 
term  it,  outside  of  the  Lake  Shore  Drive,  a  band  stand, 
and  a  returning  or  circular  driveway,  in  which  carriages 
might  slowly  move  while  open  air  concerts  were  being 
given.  To  this  the  bishop  objected,  but  he  made  no 
move  in  litigation  while  the  'circus'  in  question  was 
being  constructed,  but  when  the  intentions  of  the  Com- 
missioners became  apparent,  sought  an  injunction 
against  its  use  for  its  declared  purposes,  and  prayed  for 
its  abatement.  This  case,  'The  Catholic  Bishop  vs. 
Goudy,  et  al.,'  was  heard  before  Judge  Tuley  in  1890. 

"In  the  course  of  the  litigation,  the  Commissioners 
raised  the  point  that  the  bishop  had  no  concern  with  the 


156       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

land  outside  of  the  Lake  Shore  Drive,  nor  any  riparian 
rights  in  it,  and  that  the  block  between  Astor  Street 
and  the  Lake  Shore  Drive  did  not  belong  to  him,  but 
to  the  State  of  Illinois,  as  it  was  by  artificial  construc- 
tion illegally  made  and  not  by  natural  accretion  that 
the  submerged  land  had  become  dry  land. 

"Since  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  'Peo- 
ple v.  RevelT  this  contention  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  sustained,  but  Judge  Tuley,  in  a  very  learned, 
vigorous  and  able  opinion,  leaning  very  heavily,  how- 
ever, upon  then  recently  decided  cases  in  Minnesota  and 
Rhode  Island,  held  with  the  Catholic  Bishop  upon  all 
points.  He  held  that  where  a  new  shore  line  was  made 
by  the  action  of  the  State,  the  littoral  proprietors  be- 
come ipso  facto,  and  without  the  necessity  of  any 
specific  grant  by  the  State,  proprietors  of  the  submerged 
lands  between,  with  the  right  to  fill  and  reclaim  them, 
and  he  also  held  that  by  the  terms  of  the  Bishop's  grant, 
the  riparian  rights  beyond  the  Lake  Shore  Drive  were 
reserved  to  him  and  that  the  Commissioners  should  not 
have  made  an  artificial  construction  to  the  eastward. 

"He  granted  the  injunction  prayed  for,  but  declared 
that  he  would  not  order  the  abatement  of  the  artificially 
constructed  land  east  of  the  driveway,  because  the 
Bishop  had  stood  by  too  long  and  seen  too  much  money 
expended  in  it.  He  did,  however,  enjoin  its  intended 
use,  or  its  use,  indeed,  for  any  purpose  except  for  lawn 
and  flower  beds,  and  decreed  that  the  Bishop  was  en- 
titled to  compensation,  to  be  determined  by  a  jury,  for 
such  deprivation  of  access  to  the  lake  and  such  obstruc- 
tion to  his  view,  as  the  artificially  made  land  caused. 

"The  Commissioners  did  not  like  to  submit  this  ques- 
tion of  compensation  to  a  jury  under  the  circumstances, 
and  entered  into  a  compromise  agreement  by  which,  in 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE  157 

consideration  of  the  waiving  of  the  claim  for  damages, 
the  decree  should  be  affirmed  in  the  Supreme  Court. 
This  was  after  an  appeal  had  been  taken  to  that  tribunal. 

"The  consequence  was  that  the  title  of  the  block  which 
I  have  described,  between  Astor  Street  and  the  Lake 
Shore  Drive,  was  confirmed  in  the  Catholic  Bishop, 
upon  a  theory,  which  the  city  unsuccessfully  invoked, 
in  relation  to  the  land  east  of  the  waterworks,  and 
which  the  Supreme  Court,  impliedly  at  least,  rejected 
in  the  case  of  the  'People  against  Revell.' ' 

Costly  and  handsome  residences  now  occupy  this  block 
and  the  money  received  from  the  sales  have  substantially 
aided  in  building  charitable  institutions. 

All  the  eleemosynary  institutions  enjoyed  the  gen- 
erous support  and  most  anxious  care  of  the  Archbishop. 
Homes  for  the  aged,  hospitals  for  the  sick,  foundling 
houses  and  numerous  other  institutions  fully  attest 
this.  The  following  is  a  leading  editorial  from  the 
"New  York  Tablet"  of  1884: 

"The  Chicago  papers  contained  a  list  of  pastoral 
changes  made  by  Archbishop  Feehan  last  week.  They 
consist  almost  wholly  of  new  parishes  and  are  very 
significant  as  indications  of  the  extraordinary  growth 
of  the  Catholic  Church  in  that  vast  center  of  human 
enterprise.  Every  nationality  known  to  our  composite 
people  is  to  be  found  there,  and  of  the  700,000  inhabi- 
tants now  dwelling  where  but  a  few  years  ago  the  splash 
of  the  Indian  canoe  was  heard  on  the  reedy  creek,  nearly 
one-half  are  Catholics.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  flock 
of  the  Archbishop  of  Chicago  contains  a  greater  variety 
of  elements  than  are  to  be  found  in  any  other  archdiocese 
in  the  world.  His  government  of  them  has  been  admir- 
able. A  few  years  ago  misfortune  seemed  to  have 
marked  that  portion  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the 

n 


158       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

United  States  for  its  own.  The  cruel  calamity  which 
befell  the  gentle  and  pious  Bishop  Duggan  inflicted 
many  disasters  upon  the  people  and  the  clergy,  the 
true  condition  of  his  mind  being  unsuspected  until  in- 
sanity had  become  firmly  fixed  and  hopeless.  The 
wanderings  of  his  once  keen  and  gifted  intellect  neces- 
sarily wrought  serious  injustice  and  delayed  the  solu- 
tion of  many  problems  forced  upon  the  ecclesiastical 
authorities  by  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  great  city. 

"Today  the  archdiocese  presents  no  traces  of  those  un- 
happy times.  New  churches  have  been  springing  up 
in  every  portion  of  Archbishop  Feehan's  fold.  Every- 
where, as  quickly  as  the  resources  at  his  command  per- 
mit, the  school  is  built  beside  the  church;  while  the  in- 
stitutions of  charity,  benevolence  and  reform  which  he 
has  founded  or  strengthened  are  not  surpassed  by  those 
of  any  other  archdiocese  in  the  country,  no  matter  how 
much  greater  its  advantages  over  Chicago,  which  had 
to  repair  the  ravages  of  the  great  fire  as  well  as  to  meet 
the  unprecedented  demands  of  its  annual  increase  of 
population.  The  work  of  directing  so  vast  a  govern- 
ment, including  concerns  so  varied,  interests  so  diverse, 
conditions  so  conflicting,  requires  a  mind  profound  in 
its  tranquility,  unselfish  and  self-sacrificing,  a  business 
capacity  of  the  highest  magnitude,  a  repose  and  poise 
of  spirit  of  a  quality  the  world  knows  little  about,  and 
a  patient  persistence  whose  results  are  at  once  monu- 
ments to  the  glory  of  God  and  proofs  of  the  wisdom 
that  sent  Archbishop  Feehan  from  Nashville  to  the 
greater  labors  and  momentous  responsibilities  of  the 
Archdiocese  of  Chicago. 

"A  prelate  of  the  greatest  simplicity  of  character, 
Archbishop  Feehan  is  one  of  the  strongest  men  in  the 
Catholic  Church  of  America.  He  never  transacts  his 


ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE  159 

business  in  the  newspapers;  he  never  engages  in  rash 
controversy ;  his  government  has  never  required  the  use 
of  harsh  or  extreme  measures  toward  either  clergy  or 
laity.  Every  good  work  secures  his  co-operation.  He 
carries  on  the  discipline  of  the  Church  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  evil  so  firmly  and  so  suavely  that  the  whilom 
practice,  too  much  indulged  in  at  one  time,  of  debating 
diocesan  affairs  in  the  local  press  has  entirely  passed 
away.  Every  priest  in  his  charge  has  discovered  the 
strength,  the  kindness,  the  stanchness,  the  justice,  and 
the  loyalty  of  the  Archbishop.  They  and  their  people 
know  that  he  can  be  neither  wheedled  nor  driven  from 
the  course  his  judgment  elects  on  any  question;  and  the 
evidences  of  his  sound  sense  and  his  enlightened  pru- 
dence are  already  so  abundant  that  he  is  today  trusted 
and  beloved  alike  by  clergy  and  people. 

"He  has  never  found  it  necessary  to  forget  the  poor 
land  whence  he  sprang  and  which  has  given  to  the 
United  States  the  flower  of  the  hierarchy  and  priest- 
hood. He  has  been  a  pastor  to  all  nationalities  and  a 
lover  of  liberty  for  every  race  and  every  land.  It  is 
such  men  as  he  who  make  skepticism  admire  religion 
in  an  age  of  scoffing.  It  is  characters  like  his,  work 
such  as  he  has  so  quietly  accomplished,  that  gives  pause 
to  infidelity  and  compels  the  vaguely  wandering  Prot- 
estant mind  to  seek  the  sure  basis  of  faith  which  alone 
furnishes  the  world  with  inspiration  to  self-sacrifice 
for  the  honor  of  God,  the  rescue  of  humanity,  and  the 
salvation  of  souls." 

In  nine  years,  from  January  1,  1881,  to  December 
31,  1890,  Archbishop  Feehan  on  his  regular  visitations 
in  the  archdiocese  traveled  by  railroads  and  wagon- 
roads  wherever  his  services  were  needed,  confirmed  over 
100,000  persons,  ordained  175  priests  and  laid  the  cor- 
nerstone of  60  churches. 


160       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Mention  should  be  made  here  of  a  visit  to  Chicago 
by  His  Eminence  James  Cardinal  Gibbons,  Septem- 
ber 27, 1887.  The  Cardinal  received  a  very  enthusiastic 
welcome  from  Archbishop  Feehan  as  well  as  from  his 
clergy. 

A  month  later  the  consecration  took  place  of  Bishop 
Maurice  Burke,  of  St.  Mary's,  Joliet,  111.  The  con- 
secration of  the  new  Bishop  of  Cheyenne  occurred  Octo- 
ber 28th,  in  the  cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name.  Arch- 
bishop Feehan,  assisted  by  Bishops  McCloskey  and  Cos- 
grove,  performed  the  ceremony.  The  other  officers  of 
the  Mass  were:  Assistant  priest,  Vicar  General  P.  J. 
Conway;  Deacons  of  Honor,  Revs.  J.  P.  Roles,  and  D. 
J.  Riordan;  Deacon  of  the  Mass,  Rev.  P.  J.  Agnew; 
Sub-deacon,  Rev.  Hugh  McGuire;  Masters  of  Cere- 
mony, Revs.  P.  D.  Gill  and  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Archbishop  Ireland.  Arch- 
bishop Lynch  of  Toronto  was  present  in  the  sanctuary. 

It  was  also  in  the  year  1887  that  the  archbishop  pur- 
chased property  for  a  cemetery  for  the  Catholic  parishes 
of  the  South  Side  and  dedicated  it  under  the  title  of 
"Mount  Olivet  Cemetery." 

Many  were  the  complaints  when  the  property  for 
Mount  Olivet  as  well  as  Mount  Carmel  cemeteries  was 
purchased  on  account  of  the  distance  from  the  center 
of  the  city.  Who  would  complain  today  ?  In  an  amused 
way  Archbishop  Feehan,  when  told  of  these  complaints, 
said:  "I  think  most  of  the  people  in  Chicago  must  come 
from  small  towns:  they  are  so  afraid  of  getting  away 
from  the  town-pump.  Do  not  worry,  Mount  Carmel 
Cemetery  will  be  surrounded  by  residences  some  day 
and  whoever  succeeds  me  will  have  to  go  still  farther 
outside  the  city  limits  for  cemetery  purposes." 

On  one  occasion  Archbishop  Quigley  addressed  one 


THE  EIGHT  REV.  M.  F.  BURKE,  D.  D. 

Consecrated    in    Chicago    by    Archbishop    Feehan 
Oct.    28,   1887. 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILUMQ1S 


ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE  161 

of  the  older  priests  of  the  archdiocese  and  said:  "Tell 
me,  if  you  can,  what  was  the  secret  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
han  in  a  financial  and  real  estate  way?  He  seemed  to 
meet  quite  adequately  all  the  needs  of  the  immigrants 
and  to  finance  their  buildings ;  he  met  the  needs  of  the 
unfortunate;  he  held  all  revenue  producing  property; 
he  left  no  large  debts;  his  credit  in  the  city  was  first 
class  and  I  found  a  large  sum  in  the  treasury  when  I 
arrived.  Tell  me  how  did  he  do  it?  I  never  heard  of 
any  extraordinary  appeal  that  he  made." 

The  clergyman  replied:  "I  knew  the  Archbishop 
for  forty  years  in  Nashville  and  in  Chicago,  and  I  have 
never  heard  him  mention  any  financial  difficulties.  He 
could  not  make  an  appeal  unless  the  case  should  be  a 
very  extraordinary  one.  He  saved  very  carefully  and 
never  began  a  work  until  he  had  the  greater  part  of 
the  funds.  At  times  some  thought  him  slow  and  not 
progressive  enough,  but  the  bankers  considered  him 
always  very  safe  and  his  judgment  very  sound.  He 
often  said:  'I  would  like  to  make  such  or  such  an  im- 
provement, but  since  I  have  not  the  money  I  will  have 
to  be  patient  and  wait.  I  cannot  do  everything.  Those 
who  follow  will  have  to  finish  what  I  have  begun  and 
add  with  the  needs  of  the  years.  Up  to  the  present  there 
is  no  great  wealth  among  our  people.  That  will  change 
with  the  coming  years  and  mightier  works  can  be  under- 
taken. I  am  covering  a  period  of  great  transitions  and 
a  period  of  new  peoples.  I  must  go  slowly  and  be  care- 
ful, lest  I  weaken  the  foundations.'  Perhaps,  Arch- 
bishop, I  can  best  sum  up  the  character  of  Archbishop 
Feehan  in  regard  to  the  questions  you  ask  by  saying: 
economy,  patience  and  foresight."  To  which  Arch- 
bishop Quigley  replied:  "Well,  I  marvel  at  what  he 
did  and  the  manner  in  which  he  did  it.  The  better  I 


162       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

know  Chicago  and  its  problems,  the  higher  is  my  ap- 
preciation of  my  predecessor." 

We  now  come  to  another  important  event  of  the  year 
1887,  the  first  Synod  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago, 
the  chief  purpose  of  which  was  the  promulgation  of 
the  decrees  of  the  Third  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore. 
The  Synod  had  been  announced  to  the  clergy  by  the 
following  circular: 

PATRITIUS  AUGUSTINUS 

Dei  et  Apostolicae  Sedis  Gratia  Archiepiscopus 
Chicagiensis, 

Delecto  Nostro  Clero,    turn    Seculari,    turn   Regulari, 
Salutem  in  Domino: 

Die  decima  tertia  Decembris,  in  Ecclesia  Nostra  Me- 
tropolitana  Sanctissimi  Nominis,  hora  decima,  habebitur 
Synodus  Diocesana,  ad  quam,  per  hasce  litteras,  vocan- 
tur  omnes  Sacer dotes,  qui  in  hac  diocesi  curam  habent 
animarum,  atque  alii  quicumque  qui  de  jure  vel  con- 
suetudine  Synodo  interesse  tenentur.  Et  hoc,  in  quan- 
tum opus  est,  in  virtute  sanctae  obedientiae  jubemus. 

Convenient  Sacerdotes  clericali  habitu,  superpelliceo 
ac  bireto  induti. 

Si  alicui  interesse  impossibile  sit,  Nobis  prius  absen- 
tiae  causam  explicabit. 

Cum  consultores  sex  Diocesani  sint  eligendi,  juxta 
Concilium  Plenarium  Baltimorense,  tres  a  Nobis,  et 
tres  post  propositionem  Cleri,  singuli  Sacerdotes  ad  Nos 
vel  ad  Cancellarium  Nostrum,  ante  Synodum,  per  lit- 
teras, tria  nomina  idonea  pro  unoquope  Consultore  a 
Clero  proponendo  mittent. 

Interim  Sacerdotes  dicent  in  Missa  orationem  de  Spi- 


ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE  163 

rito  Sancto,  et  enixis  precibus  Deiun  exoremus  ut  opus 
Synodi  nostrae  benedicat  ita  ut  pro  Ejus  major!  gloria 
sit  et  pro  bono  divinae  nostrae  religionis. 

PATRITIUS  ATJGUSTINUS, 

Archiepiscopus. 

Datum  Chicagiae,  in  die  festo 

Sancti  Clementis,  M.  P.,  1887. 

On  December  13,  1887,  the  Synod  was  held  in  the 
Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name  and  was  attended  by  all 
the  priests  of  the  archdiocese.  It  was  opened  with  a 
Pontifical  High  Mass  celebrated  by  Archbishop  Fee- 
han,  assisted  by  Revs.  Thos.  Burke  and  Fred.  Kalvel- 
age,  as  deacons  of  honor;  Revs.  A.  L.  Bergeron  as  dea- 
con and  J.  M.  Cartan  as  sub-deacon  of  the  Mass;  Rev. 
M.  J.  Fitzsimmons  as  master  of  ceremonies.  After 
the  Mass  the  Synod  convened  for  deliberation. 

The  following  were  the  officers  of  the  Synod  at  which 
His  Grace  the  Archbishop  presided:  Very  Rev.  Vicar 
General  Conway,  promoter;  Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons, 
secretary;  Revs.  E.  J.  Dunne  and  T.  F.  Cashman,  pro- 
curators; Rev.  P.  J.  Agnew,  master  of  ceremonies; 
Very  Rev.  T.  J.  Butler  and  Rev.  P.  J.  Butler,  cantors; 
Revs.  T.  F.  Galligan  and  W.  de  la  Porte,  lectors. 

After  the  secretary  had  read  the  names  of  the  officers 
of  the  Synod  the  224  priests  present  came  before  the 
archbishop,  two  by  two,  and  kneeling  took  the  pre- 
scribed oath.  The  archbishop  then  spoke  of  the  neces- 
sity of  examining  anew  the  legislation  of  his  predecessors 
in  view  of  the  great  progress  of  our  holy  religion  and 
of  the  great  solicitude  of  Pope  Leo  XIII  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Church  in  the  United  States.  His  Grace 
then  referred  to  the  meeting  of  the  archbishops  in  Rome. 


164       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

The  promulgation  of  the  decrees  of  the  Third  Council 
of  Baltimore  was  now  commenced  and  was  con- 
cluded at  the  afternoon  session,  after  which  the  names 
of  the  diocesan  officials  was  read. 

The  following  reverend  gentlemen  were  appointed  as 
diocesan  consultors:  Very  Rev.  P.  J.  Conway,  V.  G., 
of  the  Cathedral;  Rev.  Thomas  Burke,  of  St.  Columb- 
kill's;  Rev.  Fred.  Kalvelage,  of  St.  Francis';  Rev.  J. 
Molitor,  of  St.  Wenceslaus';  Rev.  T.  F.  Mangan,  of 
St.  Mary's,  Joliet;  and  Rev.  J.  Mackin,  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  Church,  Elgin. 

The  following  pastors  were   appointed  permanent 
rectors : 
The  pastor  of  St.  Columbkill's  Church,  Chicago,  Rev. 

Thomas  Burke. 
The  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  Chicago,  Rev.  T. 

F.  Galligan. 
The  pastor  of  St.  Bridget's  Church,  Chicago,  Rev.  D. 

M.  J.  Dowling. 
The  pastor  of  St.  Anthony  of  Padua's  Church,  Chicago, 

Rev.  P.  Fisher. 
The  pastor  of  St.  James'  Church,  Chicago,  Rev.  Hugh 

McGuire. 
The  pastor  of  St.  James'  Church,  Rockford,  Rev.  J.  J. 

Flaherty. 
The  pastor  of  Immaculate  Conception  Church,  Elgin, 

Rev.  J.  Mackin. 
The  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Freeport,  Rev.  C. 

Kalvelage. 
The  pastor  of  Immaculate  Conception,  Waukegan,  Rev. 

E.  W.  Gavin. 
The  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Evanston,  Rev.  M. 

Donahoe. 
An  important  board,  whose  duty  it  would  be  to  exam- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE  165 

ine  candidates  for  ordination,  was  also  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  the  Very  Rev.  T.  J.  Butler,  S.  T.  D.,  and  the 
Revs.  E.  W.  Gavin,  C.  Venn,  T.  P.  Hodnett,  M.  J. 
Dorney,  William  de  la  Porte,  T.  F.  Cashman  and  Hugh 
McGuire. 

The  following  were  appointed  Rural  Deans :  the  Very 
Rev.  P.  Beaudoin,  C.  S.  V.,  of  Bourbonnais,  for  the 
counties  of  Kankakee,  Grundy,  Kendall,  Lee  and  De 
Kalb.  The  Very  Rev.  M.  Donahoe,  of  Evanston,  for 
the  counties  of  Cook,  outside  the  city,  Lake  and  Mc- 
Henry.  The  Very  Rev.  T.  F.  Mangan,  of  Joliet,  for 
the  counties  of  Will,  Dupage,  Kane  and  Boone.  The 
Very  Rev.  E.  J.  Murphy,  of  Rockford,  for  the  counties 
of  Winnebago,  Ogle,  Stephenson,  Jo  Daviess,  Carroll 
and  Whiteside. 

The  Rev.  E.  J.  Dunne,  of  All  Saints'  Church,  was 
appointed  Procurator  Fiscalis,  and  the  Rev.  P.  J.  But- 
ler, of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  De- 
fensor  Matrimonii. 

Boards  of  school  examiners  for  the  different  divisions 
of  the  city  and  of  the  country  districts  were  selected  as 
follows : 

In  the  city: 

North  Side— Revs.  P.  J.  Butler,  T.  J.  Abbott,  C. 

M.,  P.  O'Brien. 
South  Side— Revs.  T.  J.  Butler,  D.  D.,  E.  J.  Dunne, 

H.  McGuire,  J.  M.  Cartan. 
West  Side— Revs.  T.  P.  Hodnett,  T.  F.  Galligan, 

F.  S.  Henneberry. 
For  the  German  schools — Revs.  P.  Fisher,    A.    J. 

Thiele,  M.  W.  Barth. 
For  the  Polish  and  Bohemian  schools — Revs.  V.  Bar- 

zynski,  C.  R.,  F.  Bobal,  J.  Radziejewski. 


166       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Outside  of  the  city: 

For  the  counties  of  Cook,  Dupage,  Will,  Kane  and 
Boone,  the  Revs.  J.  J.  McGovern,  D.  D.,  of  Lock- 
port;  J.  E.  Hogan,  of  Lemont,  and  Very  Rev.  T. 
F.  Mangan,  of  Joliet. 

For  the  counties  of  Winnebago,  Ogle,  Stephenson, 
Jo  Daviess,  Carroll,  Whiteside  and  Lake,  the  Revs. 
J.  J.  Flaherty,  of  Rockford;  J.  Mackin,  of  Elgin; 
E.  W.  Gavin,  of  Waukegan. 

For  the  German  schools  of  the  counties  of  Cook,  Du- 
page, Lake,  Will,  Kankakee,  Grundy,  Kendall, 
Kane,  McHenry,  DeKalb  and  Boone,  the  Revs. 
W.  Nietstraeter,  of  Wilmette;  J.  Wiederhold,  of 
Winfield,  and  A.  Wenker,  of  Naperville. 
For  the  Western  part  of  DeKalb  and  Boone  counties, 
the  Revs.  C.  Schniickel,  of  Aurora;  C.  Kalvelage, 
of  Freeport,  and  P.  Halbmaier,  of  Menominee. 
For  the  French  school  in  and  outside  of  the  city,  the 
Revs.  P.  Beaudoin,  C.  S.  V.,  P.  Paradis  and  A. 
L.  Bergeron. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Synod  the  Archbishop 
praised  the  zeal  and  fervor  of  his  clergy  and  begged 
of  them  to  faithfully  observe  the  decrees  of  the  Synod. 
After  the  singing  of  the  "Te  Deum"  the  priests  dis- 
persed to  their  different  parishes. 

About  six  months  later,  July  1,  1888,  Archbishop 
Feehan  closed  the  eyes  in  death  of  his  beloved  and  faith- 
ful Vicar  General,  Father  Conway;  and  on  September 
25, 1889,  the  Rev.  Joseph  P.  Roles,  pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  was  called  to  his  eternal  account  after  many 
years  of  successful  labors  in  the  diocese  of  Chicago. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
FEEHANVILLE 

GENERAL  CONDITIONS  IN  CHICAGO — INFLUENCE  OF  THE  PRIEST- 
HOOD— PLANS  ARE  FORMED  FOR  AN  INDUSTRIAL  TRAINING 
SCHOOL — LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE — STATE  ASSISTANCE 
— THE  CHARTER — SOLEMN  DEDICATION — ACCOUNT  OF  THE 
CELEBRATION — VARIOUS  SPEECHES — BUILDINGS  DESTROYED  BY 
FIRE — SCHEDULE  OF  ASSESSMENT  OF  PARISHES  FOR  REBUILD- 
ING. 

IN  the  year  1881  the  City  of  Chicago  was  infested  with 
a  number  of  boys,  young,  homeless,  penniless,  and  bent 
upon  every  form  of  vice.  The  streets,  police  stations  and 
jails  were  overrun  with  those  unfortunates,  for  whom, 
when  convicted,  there  was  no  place  except  the  State 
Penal  Institutions  where  the  association  with  older  and 
hardened  criminals  precluded  the  probability  of  any 
measure  contemplating  reformation.  Archbishop  Fee- 
han,  keenly  alive  to  the  gravity  of  the  situation  and  the 
danger  to  society  which  the  hopeless  ruin  and  corrup- 
tion of  thousands  of  unfortunate  children  entailed,  was 
quick  to  conceive  the  idea  of  a  reformatory  where  the 
evil  effects  of  early  pernicious  influences  might  be  coun- 
teracted by  a  healthful  education  in  the  useful  avocations 
of  life  and  a  religious  training. 

Whenever  the  child  develops  into  the  headstrong  boy, 
the  vicious  youth,  the  weary  man  of  strife,  ah!  then  in- 
deed do  we  perceive  the  holy  mission  of  the  devoted 
priest.  The  stern  voice  of  a  father  will  often  fail  to 
check  the  reckless  folly  of  a  son,  but  the  gentle  counsel 
of  a  priest  will  fall  like  refreshing  dews  upon  the  dying 
flower.  One  man  may  draw  another  into  the  pleasant 

167 


168       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

ways  of  vice,  but  rarely  will  he  be  able  to  lead  him  up 
the  rugged  steps  of  virtue.  How  often,  however,  will 
not  the  soft  and  pure  accents  of  a  devoted  priest  arrest 
his  downward  course,  like  a  voice  from  beyond  the  styg- 
ian  mist? 

And  thus  also  the  storm-battered  wayfarer  through 
this  world  of  strife  and  sin ;  the  embittered  slave  of  for- 
tune; he  who  has  seen  all  the  glorious  visions  of  his 
youth  forever  fly  before  him  like  mocking  phantoms; 
he  whose  hopes  have  turned  to  scorpions  that  feed  upon 
his  heart  and  sting  the  proffered  hand  of  sympathy; 
he  who  turns  away  from  his  f ellowmen  with  distrust  and 
scorn  and  casts  upon  his  God  the  reproach  of  his  mis- 
fortunes ;  he  who  has  fled  from  the  altar  because  he  can 
no  longer  lift  his  eyes  to  gaze  upon  the  lamp  of  the 
sanctuary,  whilst  its  flame  lights  up  the  hideous  cham- 
bers of  his  conscience  and  affrights  him  with  the  full 
knowledge  of  his  guilt.  Where  is  the  path  by  which 
this  man  shall  enter  into  the  golden  court  of  hope?  Who 
shall  hold  him  by  the  hand?  Who  shall  thaw  the  ice 
around  his  heart?  What  human  sympathy  shall  cast 
a  ray  of  light  into  his  dark  soul?  In  the  omniscience 
and  mercy  of  God  all  this  was  foreseen  when  years  ago 
a  holy  man,  then  a  mere  youth,  in  the  full  flush  of 
strength  and  joy  burned  his  loving  sacrifice  on  the  altar 
of  God  and  plighted  his  troth  to  the  Spouse  of 
Christ. 

In  the  early  '60s  the  first  orphan  asylum  and  reform- 
atory for  the  Catholic  Diocese  of  Chicago  had  been  in- 
corporated. It  was  located  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
the  city.  This  part  of  Chicago  was,  at  that  time,  a  rich, 
undulating  prairie  ground,  and  the  boys,  then  as  now, 
enjoyed  the  sweet  milk  and  the  golden  tinted  butter  for 
their  morning  meal.  The  institution  pursued  the  even 


FEEHANVILLE  169 

tenor  of  its  way  until  the  winter  of  1871,  when  it  was 
obliged  to  do  heroic  work  in  caring  for  hundreds  of  chil- 
dren left  destitute  and  homeless  by  the  great  fire.  The 
Christian  Brothers  were  then  in  charge  of  the  asylum, 
and  many  were  the  sacrifices  they  patiently  and  silently 
underwent  for  the  benefit  of  the  boys.  However,  the 
time  had  come  when  the  asylum  proved  inadequate  for 
its  purpose  and  thus  it  was  that  in  the  spring  of  1882, 
Archbishop  Feehan  formulated  his  plans  and  entered 
vigorously  into  the  promotion  of  this  great  charity. 

A  large  tract  of  over  four  hundred  acres  of  land  was 
bought  close  by  Des  Plaines,  Illinois.  The  country 
roads  were  not  then  as  well  cared  for  as  today  and  the 
automobile  was  not  in  evidence/  Some  complained  that 
it  was  a  mistake  to  go  so  far  from  the  city  and  said 
that  the  purchase  was  a  waste  of  money.  When  these 
criticisms  came  to  his  notice  his  only  comment  was — 
"I  am  not  planning  or  buying  for  the  day.  A  quarter 
of  a  century  from  now  these  same  critics  will  bless  me 
and  perhaps  use  this  purchase  to  prove  that  I  was  a 
wise  man.  Few  laymen  are  fitted  to  judge  of  the  future 
needs  of  the  great  diocese  of  Chicago." 

Meanwhile  the  Archbishop  presented  the  enterprise 
to  the  Catholic  public  with  such  earnestness  and  force 
of  conviction  that  in  the  following  October  the  corner- 
stone of  the  first  building  at  Feehanville  was  laid.  The 
immense  gathering  present  on  that  occasion  fully  testi- 
fied to  the  interest  that  Catholics  ever  take  in  establish- 
ing a  charitable  institution,  and  to  the  care  which  they 
evince  in  providing  for  destitute  children.  Some  twenty 
organizations,  conspicuous  among  them  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  with  bands  of  music  were  present. 
His  Grace,  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop,  assisted  by  many 
of  the  reverend  clergy,  presided  at  the  laying  of  the  cor- 


170       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

ner-stone,  and  eloquent  addresses  were  made  by  him,  by 
Hon.  Carter  Harrison,  then  Mayor  of  Chicago,  by 
distinguished  judges  of  the  courts,  and  other  gifted 
orators. 

In  the  spring  of  1883,  when  the  plaster  of  the  new 
building  was  hardly  dry,  the  Court  of  Cook  County 
began  to  forward  boys  to  St.  Mary's  Training  School, 
and  soon  the  quiet  dells  and  groves  of  Feehanville  re- 
echoed with  the  noisy  shouts  and  merry  laughter  of 
groups  of  hitherto  homeless  boys,  now  happy  and  con- 
tented and  far  removed  from  their  former  haunts  of 
suffering  and  vice. 

Up  to  this  time  the  soil  of  Feehanville  had  remained 
barren;  it  was  covered  with  rank  prairie  weeds  and 
wholly  devoid  of  drainage.  All  this  was  now  to  be 
changed  and  the  barren  soil  made  to  teem  with  the  best 
fruits  of  the  earth.  But  how?  Before  the  plow  could 
be  turned  in  the  furrow,  the  plow  had  to  be  bought ;  so, 
too,  the  horses  to  pull  it;  and  stables  made  to  house 
them.  The  assistance  of  Providence,  however,  was  not 
wanting,  and  the  prayers  of  the  orphans  were  soon  to 
be  answered. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year  (1883),  the  Legis- 
lature being  then  in  session,  and  the  attention  of  the 
Honorable  Senators  and  Representatives  having  been 
called  to  the  great  need  of  encouraging  training  schools 
for  the  mental  and  industrial  education  of  homeless  or 
wayward  children,  the  members  graciously  adopted  a 
measure  entitled:  "An  act  to  provide  for  and  aid  Train- 
ing Schools  for  Boys."  The  amount  of  good  accom- 
plished by  this  Act  no  one  will  ever  be  able  to  calculate. 
Many  a  bright,  intelligent  boy  has  been  rescued  by  it 
from  a  life  of  degradation,  and  placed  in  a  position 
where  he  could  help  himself  and  his  aged  parents  de- 


FEEHANVILLE  171 

pending  on  him  for  support.    The  charter  of  incorpora- 
tion is  as  follows : 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,)  ss 

COOK  COUNTY.) 

We,  the  undersigned,  P.  A.  Feehan,  Bernard  Curtis, 
David  F.  Bremner,  Chas.  A.  Mair,  Patrick  H.  Rice,  Wil- 
liam A.  Amberg,  W.  J.  Quan,  John  R.  Walsh,  W.  P.  Rend, 
Bernard  Callaghan,  John  J.  McGrath,  Michael  Cudahy, 
John  Cudahy,  Thomas  Lynch,  John  Curran,  J.  B.  Sullivan, 
Thomas  Brenan,  P.  J.  Healy,  P.  F.  Gillespie,  Peter  Conlan, 
Michael  Keeley,  William  McCoy,  Z.  P.  Brosseau,  Jas.  H. 
Burke,  Andrew  Mullen,  Thomas  Connelly,  H.  Coughlin, 
Daniel  Scully,  Frank  W.  Young,  and  Bernard  Fackleday, 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  propose  to  form  a  Corpora- 
tion under  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  titled  "An  Act  Concerning  Corporations,"  ap- 
proved April  18,  1872,  and  all  acts  amendatory  thereof; 
and  especially  under  "An  Act  to  provide  for  and  aid 
Training  Schools  for  Boys,"  approved  June  18,  1883,  and 
that  for  the  purpose  of  such  organization  we  hereby  state 
as  follows,  to- wit: 

1.  The  name  of  such  corporation  is    the   "St.   Mary's 
Training  School." 

2.  The  object  for  which  it  is  formed  is  to  care  and 
provide  for,  maintain,  educate  and  teach  or  cause  to  be 
taught  some  useful  employment,  all  boys  lawfully  com- 
mitted to  or  placed  in  its  charge  by  parents,  guardians, 
friends,  relatives,  or  by  any  court,  or  in  pursuance  of  any 
law  or  legal  proceeding  or  in  any  other  proper  manner, 
who,  on  account  of  indigence,  or  waywardness,  may  be  in 
want  of  proper  training. 

3.  The  management  of  the  aforesaid  Corporation  shall 
be  vested  in  a  board  of  thirty  managers  who  are  to  be 
elected  annually. 

4.  The  following  persons  are  hereby  selected  as  the 
managers  to  control  and  manage  said  Corporation  for  the 
first  year  of  its  corporate  existence,  viz:     P.  A.  Feehan, 
Bernard  Curtis,  David  F.  Bremner,  Charles  A.  Mair,  Pat- 
rick H.  Rice,  William  A.  Amberg,  W.  J.  Quan,  John  R. 
Walsh,  W.  P.  Rend,  Bernard  Callaghan,  John  J.  McGrath, 
Michael  Cudahy,  John  Cudahy,  Thomas  Lynch,  J.  J.  Cur- 
ran,  J.  B.  Sullivan,  Thomas  Brenen,  P.  J.  Healy,  P.  F. 
Gillespie,  Peter  Conlan,  Michael  Keeley,  William  McCoy, 
Zenophile  P.  Brosseau,  James  H.  Burke,  Andrew  Mullen, 
Thomas  Connelly,  H.  Coughlin,  Daniel    Scully,    F.    W. 
Young,  and  Bernard  Fackleday. 


172       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

5.  The  location  is  in  the  County  of  Cook,  State  of  Illi- 
nois. 
(Signed) 

P.  A.  FEEHAN,  JOHN  J.  CURRAN, 

THOMAS  LYNCH,  BERNARD  CURTIS, 

BERNARD  CALLAGHAN,  JOHN  R.  WALSH, 

JAMES  H.  BURKE,  PATRICK  H.  RICE, 

FRANK  W.  YOUNG,  DANIEL  SCULLY, 

PATRICK  F.  GILLESPIE,  DAVID  F.  BREMNER, 

J.  B.  SULLIVAN,  WILLIAM  McCoY, 

BERNARD  FACKLEDAY,  Z.  P.  BROSSEAU, 

PETER  CONLAN,  CHAS.  A.  MAIR, 

THOMAS  BRENEN,  JOHN  J.  MCGRATH, 

H.   COUGHLIN,  W.  J.  QUAN, 

MICHAEL  KEELEY,  WM.  A.  AMBERG, 

ANDREW  MULLEN,  W.  P.  REND, 

THOMAS  CONNELLY,  MICHAEL  CUDAHY, 

P.  J.  HEALY,  JOHN  CUDAHY. 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.          j  gg 
DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE.  J 

Henry  D.  Dement,  Secretary  of  State. 
To  ALL  TO  WHOM  THESE  PRESENTS  SHALL  COME,  GREETING  : 

WHEREAS,  papers,  duly  signed  and  acknowledged,  hav- 
ing been  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  on 
the  fourteenth  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1883,  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  the 

St.  Mary's  Training  School, 

under  and  in  accordance  with  the  provision  of  "An  Act 
Concerning  Corporations,"  approved  April  18,  1872,  and 
in  force  July  1,  1872,  a  copy  of  which  certificate  is  hereto 
attached : 

Now,  THEREFORE,  I,  Henry  D.  Dement,  Secretary  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  by  virtue  of  the  powers  and  duties  vested 
in  me  by  law,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  said 

St.  Mary  s  Training  School 

is  a  legally  organized  Corporation  under  the  laws  of  this 
State. 

IN  TESTIMONY  WHEREOF,  I  hereto  set  my  hand  and  cause 
to  be  affixed  the  great  Seal  of  the  State. 
(SEAL.)     Done  at  the  City  of  Springfield,  this  fourteenth 
day  of  August,  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty  three,  and 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States,  the 
one  hundred  and  eight. 

HENRY  D.  DEMENT, 

Secretary  of  State. 


FEEHANVILLE  173 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,          |  ss 
EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  j 

Under  the  provisions  of  an  act  entitled  "An  Act  to  pro- 
vide for  and  aid  Training  Schools  for  Boys,"  approved 
June  18,  1883,  I  hereby  consent  to  the  organization  of  the 
"St.  Mary's  Training  School  of  Cook  County"  by  the  per- 
sons named  as  corporators  in  the  application  for  the  or- 
ganization of  said  corporation. 

JOHN  M.  HAMILTON, 

Governor. 

The  account  of  the  solemn  dedication  of  St.  Mary's 
Training  School  as  given  in  one  of  the  leading  Chicago 
papers  follows: 

"Yesterday  was  a  red-letter  day  in  the  history  of  the 
little  suburban  town  of  Des  Plaines,  eighteen  miles 
from  Chicago,  on  the  Chicago  and  North  Western  Rail- 
way, the  occasion  being  the  Dedication  of  St.  Mary's 
Training  School  for  Boys,  two  miles  northwest  from 
that  place.  The  board  of  managers  of  the  institution 
had  issued  something  near  one  thousand  invitations  to 
prominent  persons  to  be  present  at  the  ceremonies  of 
the  day,  and  Brother  Teliou,  director  of  the  school, 
advertised  the  fact  that  accommodations  would  be  pre- 
pared for  seven  thousand  people.  Special  trains  left 
the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  depot  for  Desplaines 
station  at  9:30  and  11  A.  M.,  eight  coaches  accompany- 
ing each  train,  all  of  which  were  well  filled  with  pas- 
sengers. Long  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  de- 
parture of  the  first  train  the  depot  was  besieged  with 
persons  who  were  anxious  to  purchase  tickets  for  the 
excursion.  While  the  passengers  were  filing  into  the 
coaches  the  brass  bands  of  the  married  men's  sodality 
and  the  cadet  company  of  the  Holy  Family  parish 
played  several  lively  Irish  and  American  national  airs. 

"Upon  the  arrival  of  the  trains  at  the  Desplaines  sta- 
tion, the  streets  and  vacant  lots  about  the  depot  were 

13 


174       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

found  to  be  blocked  with  vehicles,  every  one  being  pla- 
carded with  a  sign  which  read:  'Fare  to  Feehanville 
only  10  cents.'  These  accommodations  were  rapidly 
filled  with  passengers  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes,  and 
a  lively  scramble  was  made  for  seats  in  such  of  them 
as  had  anything  like  a  covering,  as  the  sun  was  beat- 
ing down  with  a  vengeance  at  the  time. 

"On  arriving  at  the  entrance  of  the  school  grounds, 
the  wagons  passed  under  an  arch  over  the  main  entrance, 
which  bore  the  inscription  in  illuminated  letters :  'Wel- 
come to  Feehanville.'  There  were  in  the  party  hun- 
dreds who  had  not  enjoyed  the  fresh  country  air  and  a 
romp  through  green  meadows  and  shady  groves  for 
years,  and  when  at  the  invitation  of  Brother  Teliou  they 
'made  themselves  at  home,'  and  crossed  over  the  Des- 
plaines  River,  which  runs  through  the  460  acre  farm,  to 
the  picnic  grove,  which  embraces  some  twenty-five 
acres,  they  settled  themselves  down  for  a  day  of  genuine 
enjoyment! 

"The  yard  in  front  of  the  brothers'  house  and  the 
grove  were  fitted  up  with  refreshment  stands,  where 
lemonade,  ice  cream,  cake,  and  sandwiches  were  dis- 
pensed at  current  prices,  the  revenue  which  was  derived 
from  such  sales  being  applied  to  the  payment  of  the 
expenses  of  the  celebration.  Before  1  P.  M.  the  grounds 
were  filled  with  visitors  from  Chicago,  Elgin,  Desplaines, 
Maywood,  and  other  suburbs,  and  it  was  estimated 
that  at  least  thirty-five  hundred  people  were  present 
at  the  celebration.  The  two  brass  bands  were  constantly 
rendering  choice  musical  selections;  young  men  and 
women  romped  merrily  through  the  grove;  the  refresh- 
ment stands  were  liberally  patronized,  and  the  whole 
affair  bore  the  aspect  of  a  grand  picnic  party,  which  in 
reality  it  was.  About  the  most  delighted  person  in  the 


FEEHANVILLE  175 

entire  party  was  Judge  Anthony,  who  could  not  re- 
strain his  sentiments  of  admiration  at  the  beautiful  site 
selected  by  the  board  of  managers  of  the  institution  for 
the  erection  of  the  school  buildings  and  to  a  reporter 
for  'The  Times'  the  judge  said:  'I  am  both  surprised 
and  delighted  to  see  that  this  institution  is  so  wonder- 
fully favored  by  its  natural  surroundings  for  the  high 
and  noble  purposes  to  which  it  is  devoted.  I  say  that 
the  youngsters  who  are  picked  up  from  the  slums  and 
reeking  alleys  of  Chicago  cannot  be  but  supremely 
happy  when  sent  by  the  court  from  their  surroundings 
of  vice  and  misery  to  such  a  beautiful  home  as  this, — 
for  a  home  it  certainly  will  be  under  the  mild  and  pa- 
rental government  of  the  good  men  in  charge, — and  if 
the  youngsters  have  any  noble  and  manly  sentiments 
in  them,  such  surroundings  as  these  cannot  fail  to  exert 
a  powerful  influence  toward  developing  them,  when  the 
boys  are  made  to  understand  that  they  are  sent  here, 
not  as  a  punishment,  but  as  a  means  of  advancing  their 
own  interests.  I  don't  believe  I  have  ever  seen  a  spot 
more  favored  by  nature  for  such  an  institution  as  this 
very  one.' ' 

At  1  P.  M.  Brother  Teliou  invited  the  specially  fa- 
vored guests,  including  the  clergy,  several  ladies,  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Cook  County  judiciary,  members 
of  the  legislature,  and  Chicago  press  reporters,  to  re- 
pair to  the  dining-room,  where  an  elegant  repast  awaited 
them. 

At  1 :30  His  Grace,  Archbishop  Feehan,  accompanied 
by  the  Very  Rev.  Vicar  General  Conway  and  the  Very 
Rev.  Chancellor  Gill,  arrived  from  the  city  in  a  car- 
riage, and  the  oratorical  portion  of  the  program  was 
taken  up,  State  Senator  Rice  being  chosen  as  master  of 
ceremonies. 


176        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

The  speeches  were  delivered  from  the  piazza  of  the 
brothers'  house,  in  front  of  which  at  least  fifteen  hun- 
dred people  had  assembled.  Senator  Rice  addressed 
the  assemblage,  briefly  expressing  his  gratification  at 
beholding  the  praiseworthy  and  charitable  enterprise, 
which  was  so  recently  inaugurated,  approaching  a  full 
and  perfect  realization  of  the  ideas  of  the  benevolent 
gentlemen  who  first  started  it.  He  also  took  pleasure 
in  announcing  that  he  had  favored  with  his  vote  and 
influence  in  the  senate  every  move  whereby  the  institu- 
tion might  be  benefited  and  fostered  by  the  State. 

Seth  F.  Crews  followed  with  a  brief  address,  during 
the  course  of  which  he  stated  that  it  was  with  feelings 
of  the  greatest  pleasure  that  he  responded  to  the  invita- 
tion to  be  present  on  the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of 
what  was  destined  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  and  noblest 
of  the  charitable  institutions  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  He 
felt  it  an  honor  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  legislature 
that  passed  the  bill  providing  for  a  partial  support  of 
the  institution  out  of  the  State  funds,  and  he  felt  certain 
that  all  good  citizens  of  the  State  shared  in  his  hearty 
good-will  towards  the  future  success  of  such  a  grand 
institution. 

Judge  Anthony  next  addressed  the  assemblage.  After 
paying  a  compliment  to  the  board  of  managers  of  the 
school  for  their  wonderful  progress  in  the  good  work 
they  had  undertaken,  and  after  alluding  to  the  self- 
sacrificing  lives  of  tHe  Christian  Brothers  in  charge 
of  the  institution,  he  said  that  he  esteemed  it  an  honor 
to  be  present  and  take  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
dedication  of  such  a  monument  of  philanthropy  and 
Christian  charity.  He  regretted  that  it  was  the  mis- 
fortune of  civilization  to  engender  a  barbarism  that 
threatened  the  liberties  of  the  people  by  the  seeming, 


FEEHANVILLE  177 

i 

almost  total,  indifference  on  the  part  of  many  who  were 
blessed  with  much  of  this  world's  goods  as  to  the  future 
of  the  outcast  and  abandoned  children  that  throng  the 
streets  and  byways  of  our  great  cities.  Such  an  insti- 
tution as  the  one  that  was  soon  to  be  dedicated,  however, 
would  tend  to  counteract  this  barbarism,  and  would  in 
the  near  future  exert  a  most  blessed  influence  upon  so- 
ciety in  general.  During  his  long  experience  as  a  judge 
it  had  been  a  vexed  question  with  him,  hitherto,  as  to 
how  he  would  dispose  of  the  hundreds  of  juvenile  crim- 
inals, or  lads  that  were  drifting  into  a  criminal  life, 
that  were  brought  before  him,  as  he  had  to  send 
them  either  to  the  house  of  correction  or  the  reformatory, 
which  course  not  unfrequently  resulted  in  confirming 
them  in  their  criminal  habits  and  practices ;  but  the  new 
training  school  would  open  a  new  field,  which  would 
afford  poor  abandoned  street  arabs  a  place  of  asylum 
and  education. 

Judge  Hawes  spoke  briefly  on  the  superiority  of  such 
an  institution  as  St.  Mary's  Training  School  over  the 
ordinary  reformatories,  and  said  he  deemed  it  his  duty, 
and  the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  to  encourage  such 
a  project  as  that  of  the  training  school  in  question. 

Ex-Governor  Beveridge  delivered  an  address  on  the 
good  work  accomplished  by  the  self-sacrificing  members 
of  religious  orders  in  the  United  States  from  the  days 
of  the  saintly  Father  Marquette  to  the  present  time. 
He  was  confident  that  the  training  school  was  in  proper 
hands,  and  that  its  success  in  the  attainment  of  its  high 
object  was  a  foregone  conclusion. 

Judge  Moran  made  a  few  pointed  remarks  on  the 
great  good  to  the  community  the  new  training  school 
was  bound  to  accomplish.  He  had  spoken  on  the  sub- 
ject several  times  before,  and  he  could  but  repeat  what 


178       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

he  had  said  in  former  speeches;  therefore  begged  to  be 
excused  from  speaking  further.  Mr.  F.  Elmendorf, 
of  the  Citizens'  League,  and  H.  Thomas,  the  colored 
legislator  from  the  third  district,  also  made  brief  speeches 
complimentary  to  the  enterprise.  Vicar  General  Con- 
way  was  then  introduced  and  spoke  as  follows: 

"Your  Grace,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  This  immense 
outpouring  of  people  shows  a  wide  sympathy  for  the 
homeless  one,  for  whom  this  institution  is  dedicated. 
The  donations  which  have  poured  in  to  the  managers 
of  St.  Mary's  Training  School  evince  a  public  spirit  and 
even-handed  justice.  Further  assurance  of  the  liber- 
ality of  your  fellow  citizens  is  presented  today  when  all 
join  in  the  supplication  of  His  Grace,  that  He  who 
came  to  evangelize  the  poor,  to  raise  up  the  downcast, 
to  receive  back  the  wayward,  and  to  defend  and  to  pro- 
vide for  the  orphan,  would  in  a  special  manner  bless  this 
home.  There  is,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  a  law  of  phys- 
ical and  moral,  intellectual  and  social,  inequality  which 
man  cannot  change,  but  he  may  modify.  Many  begin 
life  with  a  moderate  share  of  the  goods  of  fortune,  but 
within  their  humble  home  there  is  happiness,  and  bright 
hopes  are  cherished.  Dutiful  care  and  anxiety,  weary 
and  unremitting  toil,  slowly  undermine  a  delicate  phy- 
sique, rendering  the  impaired  forces  unequal  to  the  daily 
strain.  Industrious  and  honest  parents  would  cheer- 
fully lay  down  life's  burden  at  death's  summons  were 
it  not  that  their  innocent,  helpless  child  must  depend 
on  charity.  For  this  reason  they  naturally  close  their 
eyes  in  sorrow  to  awake  in  joy,  to  see  the  glories  and 
to  feel  the  enchantment  of  heaven,  which  puts  grief  to 
flight  and  sheds  over  the  soul  a  cloudless  and  an  ever- 
lasting serenity.  But  all  is  gloomy  and  dark  for  the 
orphan  whose  heart  is  yet  pure  but  his  mind  undeveloped 


FEEHANVILLE  179 

and  his  hand  feeble  and  unskilled.  The  training  school 
opens  its  doors  to  him,  wherein  he  will  be  equipped  for 
this  busy,  active  world. 

"There  are  other  boys  deprived  not  of  natural  pro- 
tectors, but  whose  condition  is  as  perilous  as  the  orphan. 
They  have  yielded  to  giddy  folly,  they  are  led  away 
by  novelty,  and  they  are  on  the  way  of  idleness.  They 
meet  companions  spending  an  indolent,  aimless  life. 
The  allurements  to  evil,  to  which  they  are  inclined,  are 
many.  They  have  already  entered  on  a  riotous  course 
and  dishonest  practices.  Their  own  welfare,  the  order 
and  the  safety  of  society,  render  it  imperative  that  they 
may  be  trained  to  industry  to  become  useful  and  honest 
citizens.  This  is  the  aim  of  St.  Mary's  Training  School. 

"Many  placed  in  like  positions  are  not  equally  suc- 
cessful. They  are  endowed  alike  with  correct  and  sound 
judgment.  Few,  if  any,  can  master  all  the  endless 
branches  of  science  and  literature,  but  he  who  has  a 
clear  knowledge  of  his  business,  profession  or  calling 
may  be  therein  called  learned. 

"There  are  physical  studies — the  study  of  things 
adapted  to  the  development  of  the  hand,  for  which  by 
far  the  larger  portion  is  fitted,  and  on  which  the  people 
depend.  In  whatever  avocation  man  is  fittingly  em- 
ployed he  is  therein  most  beneficial  to  self  and  useful 
to  society.  A  good  mechanic  and  the  skilled  horticultur- 
ist cannot  in  their  sphere  be  called  ignorant.  The  train- 
ing school,  embracing  a  liberal  education,  trades,  farm 
and  garden  cultivation,  will  afford  each  one,  according 
to  his  capacity,  an  opportunity  to  fit  himself  for  the 
positions  for  which  nature  and  nature's  God  intended 
him. 

"There  is  a  third  feature  which  is  indispensable.  The 
boy  must  not  only  be  educated  and  trained  to  indus- 


180       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

trious  habits  and  receive  a  practical  education,  but  he 
ought  also  to  receive  moral  education  which  may  enable 
him  to  detect  licentious  practices  that  are  opposed  to 
peace  and  happiness.  He  must  be  induced  to  cherish 
high  moral  principles  which  will  check  the  impetuosity 
of  passion  and  control  vice  and  crime.  He  must  culti- 
vate virtuous  habits  which  will  contribute  to  present 
pleasures  and  joys  which  the  world  may  weaken,  but 
will  not  deface.  It  is  a  noble  act  of  generosity  to  build 
up  a  home  which  will  modify  the  condition  of  the  poor, 
the  ignorant,  and  the  vicious.  This  institution  ought 
to  arrest  the  attention  of  the  philanthropist  and  enlist 
the  meritorious  works  of  the  charitable  to  the  end  that 
innocence  be  preserved,  the  indolent  become  industrious, 
the  vicious  become  virtuous,  the  God-like  faculties  of 
the  mind  be  enlightened,  and  the  will-power  be  constant 
in  right  doing.  St.  Mary's  Training  School  in  its  aim 
is  far  reaching.  It  not  only  meets  the  needs  of  our 
times  by  providing  a  home  for  the  destitute  and  way- 
ward boy,  without  distinction  of  creed,  race,  or  color, 
but  it  looks  to  the  enlightenment,  the  honesty,  and  mor- 
ality of  future  generations." 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Hodnett  and  the  Most  Rev.  Arch- 
bishop concluded  the  speeches  with  brief  remarks  on  the 
benefits  society  would  reap  from  the  new  institution. 
A  chorus  of  forty  of  the  inmates  of  the  school  then  took 
the  platform  and  sang  a  hymn  in  honor  of  the  Arch- 
bishop, entitled  "Hail  to  Our  Good  Pastor." 

Besides  the  speakers  named,  the  following  gentlemen 
were  present:  Colonel  Sheridan,  Chief  of  Police  Doyle, 
Colonel  P.  M.  Clowry,  U.  S.  Commissioner  Hoyne,  W. 
J.  Quan,  P.  H.  Rice,  Michael  Cudahy,  John  W.  En- 
right,  P.  J.  Healy,  W.  A.  Amberg,  Thomas  Brennan, 
George  W.  Smith,  James  H.  Burke,  William  J.  On- 


FEEHANVILLE  181 

ahan,  James  Barnett,  W.  J.  Hynes,  Michael  Keeley, 
Patrick  Gosslin,  Bernard  Curtis,  Alex.  Sullivan,  Ber- 
nard Callahan,  John  Cudahy,  F.  W.  Young,  Chas.  A. 
Mair,  Daniel  Scully,  P.  J.  Gillespie,  J.  B.  Lynch,  D. 
F.  Bremner,  Col.  W.  P.  Rend,  J.  P.  South,  and  T. 
J.  Lynch. 

Year  by  year  additions  were  made  to  the  school  and 
before  long  it  possessed  a  cluster  of  buildings  present- 
ing at  a  distance  the  appearance  of  a  neat  little  village. 
However,  in  1899,  a  damaging  fire  destroyed  the  insti- 
tution. The  fire  had  been  so  complete  that  nothing 
escaped  and  the  300  boys  were  scattered  for  the  time 
being  everywhere.  The  Archbishop  immediately  took 
steps  to  gather  the  boys  and  place  them  in  the  Provi- 
dence Orphan  Asylum  in  Glenwood,  the  County  Reform 
School,  and  some  he  sent  to  their  homes.  At  once  a 
meeting  was  called  of  all  the  pastors  of  the  archdiocese 
to  devise  ways  and  means  for  the  rebuilding  of  St. 
Mary's  Training  School. 

This  meeting  was  held  November  14,  1899,  at  the 
Cathedral,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  parishes  of  the 
archdiocese  contribute  $100,000,  payable  in  two  years, 
in  semi-annual  installments,  toward  the  fund  for  the 
rebuilding  of  the  institution.  The  chairman  was  em- 
powered to  appoint  a  representative  committee  to  assess 
each  parish  on  the  same  basis  as  the  diocesan  taxes  were 
levied.  We  herewith  submit  the  report  of  this  com- 
mittee, which  was  sent  to  all  the  pastors  on  January  3, 
1900. 

Jan.  1,  July  1,  Jan.  1,  July  1, 

1900  1900  1901  1901 

Cathedral $630  $630  $630  $630, 

St.  Adalbert's  (Polish)....  210  210  210  210 

St.  Agatha's 300  300  300  300 

St.  Agnes' 100  100  100  100 

St.  Ailbe's  .                              60  60  60  60 


182       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Jan.  1,  July  1,    Jan.  1,    July  1, 

1900  1900  1901  1901 

All  Saints' 360  360  360  360 

St.  Aloysius'  (German) ...  180  180  180  180 

St.  Alphonsus'  (German) .  360  360  360  360 

St.  Andrew's  110  110  110  110 

St.  Anne's   360  360  360  360 

Annunciation  150  150  150  150 

St.  Anthony's  (German) . .  270  270  270  270 

Assumption  (Italian) 135  135  135  135 

St.  Augustine's   (German).  210  210  210  210 

St.  Bernard's 215  215  215  215 

Blessed  Sacrament 205  205  205  205 

St.  Boniface's  (German) . .  170  170  170  170 

St.  Brendan's  85  85  85  85 

St.  Bridget's 360  360  360  360 

St.  Casimir  (Polish) 100  100  100  100 

St.  Catherine  of  Genoa...     45  45  45  45 

St.  Catherine  of  Sienna...  120  120  120  120 

St.  Cecelia's   300  300  300  300 

St.  Charles'   450  450  450  450 

St.  Clara's  (German) 55  55  55  55 

St.  Columbian's 450  450  450  450 

St.  Columba  (Polish) 15  15  15  15 

SS.   Cyril   and  Methodius' 

(Bohemian)   55  55  55  55 

St.  Dionysius'       (German, 

Hawthorne)  45  45  45  45 

St.  Elizabeth's   465  465  465  465 

St.  Francis  of  Assisi  (Ger- 
man)     165  165  165  165 

St.  Francis    Xavier    (Ger- 
man, Ayondale) 50  50  50  50 

St.  Francis  de  Sales  (Ger- 
man, Colehour)    45  45  45  45 

St.  Francis    Xavier  (La 

Grange)   45  45  45  45 

St.  Gabriel's 600  600  600  600 

St.  Gall's  ....15  15  15  15 

St.  George's  (German)....  120  120  120  120 

St.  George's  (Lithuanian).  120  120  120  120 

St.  Hedwig's  (Polish) 210  210  210  210 

St.  Henry's  (German,  High 

Ridge/ 90  90  90  90 

St.    Hyacinth's  (Polish)...     40  40  40  40 

Holv  Angels' 630  630  630  630 

Holv  Cross..                        .  200  200  200  200 


FEEHANVILLE  183 

Jan.  1,  July  1,  Jan.  1,  July  1, 

1900  1900  1901  1901 

Holy  Family  600  600  600  600 

Holy  Rosary   160  160  160  160 

Holy  Trinity  (German) ...  150  150  150  150 

Holy  Trinity    (Polish) ....  240  240  240  240 

Holy  Ghost    30  30  30  30 

Immaculate  Conception  . .  420  420  420  420 
Immaculate  Conception 

(German)  120  120  120  120 

Immaculate  Conception 

(Polish)  125  125  125  125 

St.  James'  630  630  630  630 

St.  Jarlath's 420  420  420  420 

St.  Jerome's 30  30  30  30 

St.  John's 255  255  255  255 

St.  John    the    Baptist 

(French)    45  45  45  45 

St.  John  Cantius'  (Polish)  325  325  325  325 
St.  John  Nepomucene's 

(Bohemian)  70  70  70  70 

St.  Josaphat's    (Polish) . . .  155  155  155  155 

St.    Joseph's  (German) ...  210  210  210  210 

St.  Joseph's    (Polish) 120  120  120  120 

St.  Joseph's    (French) 50  50  50  50 

St.  Kevin's   (Cummings) . .     45  45  45  45 

St.  Lawrence  O'Toole's...  140  140  140  140 

St.  Leo's  45  45  45  45 

St.  Louis'  (French,  Pull- 
man)       45  45  45  45 

St.  Ludmilla  (Bohemian) .     60  60  60  60 

St.  Luke's 60  60  60  60 

St.  Malachy's 195  195  195  195 

St.  Mark's 45  45  45  45 

St.  Mary's 165  165  165  165 

St.  Mary's  of  Czestochowa 

(Polish)  45  45  45  45 

St.  Mary's  of  the  Angels 

(Polish)    45  45  45  45 

St.  Mary's  of  Perpetual 

Help  (Polish) 150  150  150  150 

St.  Mary's  of  Perpetual 

Help   (German) 15  15  15  15 

St.  Margaret's   60  60  60  60 

St.  Martin's    (German) ....   120  120  120  120~ 

St.  Matthew's    60  60  60  60 

St.  Mathias'  (German) ....     60  60  60  60 


184       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Jan.  1,  July  1,  Jan.  1,  July  1, 

1900  1900  1901  1901 

St.  Mel's  240  240  240  240 

St.  Michael's  (German) ...   480  480  480  480 

St.  Michael's  (Polish) 120  120  120  120 

St.  Mauritius'  (German) . .     45  45  45  45 

Nativity 540  540  540  540 

St.  Nicholas'  (German) ...     50  50  50  50 

Notre  Dame  (French) 310  310  310  310 

Our  Lady  of  the  Angels'.     15  15  15  15 
Our  Lady  of  Good  Counsel 

(Bohemian)  15  15  15  15 

Our   Lady   of  Lourdes 

(Ravenswood) 150  150  150  150 

Our   Lady   of  Lourdes 

(Bohemian)  30  30  30  30 

Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel  335  335  335  335 

Our  Lady  of  Sorrows 450  450  450  450 

St.  Patrick's 240  240  240  240 

St.  Patrick's  (So.  Chicago)  150  150  150  150 

St.  Paul's  (German) 210  210  210  210 

SS.  Peter  &  Paul  (German, 

South  Chicago) 60  60  60  60 

SS.  Peter  &  Paul  (Polish) .     15  15  1,5  15 

St.    Peter's  (German) 90  90  90  90 

Presentation  30  30  30  30 

St.  Philomena's  (German)     45  45  45  45 

St.  Pius' 225  225  225  225 

St.  Procopius'  (Bohemian)  150  150  150  150 

St.  Rose  of  Lima's 180  180  180  180 

Sacred  Heart 225  225  225  225 

Sacred  Heart  (German).. .     45  45  45  45 

St.  Stanislaus'  (Polish)...  660  660  660  660 

St.  Stephen's 75  75  75  75 

St.  Sylvester's 150  150  150  150 

St.  Teresa's  (German) ....   125  125  125  125 

St.  Thomas'  130  130  130  130 

St.  Viateur's 30  30  30  30 

St.  Vincent's   450  450  450  450 

Visitation   450  450  450  450 

St.  Vitus  (Bohemian) 45  45  45  45 

St.  Wenceslaus'     (B  oh  e  - 

mian)    55  55  55  55 

Churches  outside  the  city: 

Amboy,  St.  Patrick's 45  45  45  45 

Apple  River,  St.  Joseph's.     35  35  35  35 


FEEHANVILLE  185 

Jan.  1,  July  1,    Jan.  1,  July  1, 

1900  1900  1901  1901 

Aurora,  Annunciation    ...  45  45  45  45 

St.  Joseph's 15  15  15  15 

Holy  Angels' 20  20  20  20 

St.  Mary's 90  90  90  90 

St.  Nicholas'  ....  165  165  165  165 

Sacred   Heart....  30  30  30  30 

Batavia,  Holy  Cross 25  25  25  25 

Belvidere,  St.  James' 105  105  105  105 

Blue  Island,  St.  Benedict's  50  50  50  50 
Bourbonnais  Grove,  Mater- 
nity      60  60  60  60 

Braidwood,       Immaculate 

Conception    15  15  15  15 

Buffalo  Grove,  Immaculate 

Conception    45  45  45  45 

Chicago  Heights 15  15  15  15 

Coal  City,  Assumption 15  15  15  15 

De  Kalb,  St.  Mary's 75  75  75  75 

Desplaines,  St.  Mary's 15  15  15  15 

Dixon,  St.  Patrick's 90  90  90  90 

Downer's  Grove,  St.  Mary's  15  15  15  15 
East  Dubuque,  St.  Mary's.  15  15  15  15 
Elgin,  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion      85  85  85  85 

Elgin,  St.  Joseph's 15  15  15  15 

Elizabeth,   Our  Lady  of 

Sorrows    25  25  25  25 

Elmhurst,  Immaculate     . 

Conception 25  25  25  25 

Evanston,  St.  Mary's 195  195  195  195 

St.  Nicholas'...  90  90  90  90 

Fremont  Center,  St.  James'  30  30  30  30 

Freeport,  St.  Mary's 90  90  90  90 

St.  Joseph's  ...  90  90  90  90 
Fulton,    Immaculate    Con- 
ception    30  30  30  30 

Galena,  St.  Mary's 50  50  50  50 

St.  Michael's   ....  45  45  45  45 

Goodrich   15  15  15  15 

Hampshire,  St.  Charles' . .  45  45  45  45 

Harmon    15  15  15  15 

Hartland,  St.  Patrick's 30  30  30  30 

Harvard,  St.  Joseph's 75  75  75  75 

Highland    Park,    Immacu- 
late Conception... 20  20  20  20 


186       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Jan.  1,  July  1,  Jan.  1,  July  1, 
1900    1900    1901    1901 


Huntley  Grove,  St.  Mary's. 

15 

15 

15 

15 

Irwin  Station,  St.  James'.  . 

15 

15 

15 

15 

Johnsburg,    St.   John    the 

Baptist    

75 

75 

75 

75 

Joliet,  St.  John  the  Baptist 

150 

150 

150 

150 

St.  Joseph's  (Slavo- 

nian)     

60 

60 

60 

60 

St.  Mary's   

165 

165 

165 

165 

St.  Patrick's    

110 

110 

110 

110 

Sacred  Heart  

80 

80 

80 

80 

Holy  Cross  (Polish) 

50 

50 

50 

50 

Kankakee,  Immaculate 

Conception  . 

45 

45 

45 

45 

St.   Patrick's.. 

35 

35 

35 

35 

St.  Rose's  .... 

90 

90 

90 

90 

Kinsman,  Sacred  Heart.  .  . 

45 

45 

45 

45 

Lake  Forest,  St.  Mary's  .  .  . 

55 

55 

55 

55 

Lakeside,  Sacred  Heart.  .  . 

30 

30 

30 

30 

Lemont,  St.  Alphonsus  .  .  . 

45 

45 

45 

45 

SS.   Cyril  &  Me- 

thodius'   

60 

60 

60 

60 

St.  Patrick's  

40 

40 

40 

40 

Lena,  St.  Joseph's  

30 

30 

30 

30 

Libertyville    

15 

15 

15 

15 

Lockport,  St.  Denis'  

45 

45 

45 

45 

St.  Joseph's   .  .  . 

15 

15 

15 

15 

Lyons,  St.  Mary's  

30 

30 

30 

30 

Manteno,  St.  Joseph's  

35 

35 

35 

35 

Maple  Park,  St.  Mary's  

45 

45 

45 

45 

Maytown,  St.  Patrick's  .... 

15 

15 

15 

15 

McHenry,  St.  Patrick's.  .  .  . 

50 

50 

50 

50 

St.  Joseph's 

(German)    ..  . 

30 

30 

30 

30 

Menominee,  Nativity  

45 

45 

45 

45 

Minooka,  St.  Mary's  

30 

30 

30 

30 

Momence,  St.  Patrick's  .... 

25 

25 

25 

25 

Morris,    Immaculate    Con- 

ception      , 

55 

55 

55 

55 

Naperville,    SS.    Peter  & 

Paul's  

45 

45 

45 

45 

Niles  Center,  St.  Peter's  .  . 

45 

45 

45 

45 

Oregon,  St.  Marv's  

60 

60 

60 

60 

Pecatonia,  St.  Mary's  

30 

30 

30 

30 

Richton,  St.  James'  

15 

15 

15 

15 

Rochelle,  St.  Patrick's.... 

45 

45 

45 

45 

FEEHANVILLE  187 

Jan.  1,  July  1,  Jan.  1,    July  1, 

1900  1900  1901  1901 

Rockford,  St.  James' 90  90  90  90 

St.  Mary's 165  165  165  165 

Rosecrans,  St.  Patrick's...  15  15  15  15 

Sag  Bridge,  St.  James' 15  15     .       15  15 

Savanna,  St.  John's 30  30  30  30 

Shannon,  St.  Wendelin's. .  15  15  15  15 
Somonauk,  St.   John   the 

Baptist's   45  45  45  45 

Sterling,  St.  Patrick's 65  65  65  65 

Stockton,  Holy  Gross 15  15  15  15 

Sublette,  St.  Mary's 35  35  35  35 

St.  Anne,  St.  Anne's 35  35  35  35 

St.  Charles,  St.  Patrick's..  30  30  30  30 

St.  George,  St.  George's...  30  30  30  30 
Sobieski,  St.  Andrew's 

(Polish)    60  60  60  60 

Sycamore,  St.  Mary's 30  30  30  30 

Tampico,  St.  Mary's 20  20  20  20 

Waukegan,   Immaculate 

Conception  75  75  75  75 
St.  Joseph's..  35  35  35  35 
Wheaton,  St.  Michael's...  50  50  50  50 
Wilmette,  St.  Joseph's....  105  105  105  105 
Wilmington,  St.  Rose's...  50  50  50  50 
Winfield,  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist's    35  35  35  35 

Woodstock,  St.  Mary's 45  45  45  45 

West  Brooklyn 15  15  15  15 

West  Chicago 30  30  30  30 

From  the  time  of  the  inception  of  the  school  until  the 
year  1892,  over  2,000  boys  had  been  benefited  by  it, 
and  the  majority  of  them  provided  with  good  situations, 
returned  to  relatives,  or  placed  in  respectable  homes  on 
neighboring  farms.  There  were  present  in  the  school,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1892,  325  boys;  received  during  the  year,  356, 
making  a  total  of  681  boys ;  of  the  356  boys  received,  270 
were  proteges  of  Cook  County.  The  total  amount  re- 
ceived from  the  county  for  the  education  and  main- 
tenance of  these  boys  was  $12,500. 

Some  years  before  his  death  Archbishop  Feehan  built 


188        THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

a  summer  home  on  the  land  near  the  institution  and 
spent  several  summers  there.  He  once  said:  "Since 
this  is  Feehanville,  a  Feehan  may  most  appropriately 
spend  his  summers  here.  Besides,  it  makes  me  young 
again  to  watch  the  boys  at  play  and  at  work." 

Magnificent  buildings  were  erected  on  this  land  by 
Archbishop  Quigley  and  continued  by  Archbishop  Mun- 
delein,  so  that  today  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more 
ideal  home  for  children. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

HIS  SILVER  JUBILEE 

A  SPECTACLE  OF  MAGNIFICENCE — THE  CELEBRATION  IN  THE 
CATHEDRAL — THE  SERMON  BY  BISHOP  HOGAN — THE  DINNER 
— ADDRESS  BY  VICAR  GENERAL  DOWLING — THE  PROGRAMME — 
THE  CELEBRATION  AT  NIGHT — THE  MARCHING. 

IN  the  month  of  October,  1890,  the  great  City  of 
Chicago  witnessed  in  a  spectacle  of  unparalleled  mag- 
nificence, the  ripe  and  golden  fruit  of  the  great  Arch- 
bishop's work  during  the  first  decade  of  his  administra- 
tion of  the  archdiocese.  No  grander  evidence  of  the 
sublime  reverence  and  love  which  swelled  in  the  hearts 
and  souls  of  a  Catholic  people  for  their  illustrious  Met- 
ropolitan has  been  manifested  upon  any  like  occasion 
within  the  whole  range  of  American  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory. This  memorable  event  was  the  celebration  of  the 
Archbishop's  Silver  Jubilee,  or  the  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  his  elevation  to  the  episcopacy. 

It  has  now  passed  into  the  world's  history  as  a  most 
portentous  sign  of  the  times,  demonstrating  the  won- 
derful growth  of  Catholicism  in  the  archdiocese  in  the 
past,  and  foreshadowing  almost  limitless  possibilities  for 
the  future  under  the  wise  and  just  regime  of  masterful 
men,  possessed  of  great  faith  and  piety. 

It  would  be  a  reasonable  inference  that  a  prelate  who 
always  betrayed  so  marked  an  aversion  to  ostentatious 
display,  who  sought  retirement  and  dreaded  the  lime- 
light of  public  observation,  would  inspire  but  little 
warmth  of  affection  in  the  hearts  of  his  people,  but  such 
was  not  the  case  with  Archbishop  Feehan.  No  prelate 

189 
14 


190       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

in  the  world  was  more  deeply  beloved  by  his  spiritual 
children.  Several  days  were  set  apart  for  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  Archbishop's  Silver  Jubilee  and  upon  one  eve- 
ning the  largest  and  most  imposing  torch-light  proces- 
sion which  was  ever  seen  in  the  United  States  marched 
through  the  streets  of  Chicago  in  his  honor ;  the  proces- 
sion numbered  over  sixty  thousand  men  and  paraded 
the  streets  with  the  order  and  discipline  of  a  body  of 
trained  soldiers  upon  military  parade.  Thousands  of 
citizens  of  every  shade  of  religious  and  political  opinion, 
and  irrespective  of  social  distinctions,  participated  in 
the  celebration. 

At  half-past  ten  o'clock,  Wednesday,  October  29, 
1890,  the  opening  services  of  the  jubilee  began  in 
the  cathedral.  The  mellow  light  of  a  perfect  Indian 
summer  morning  had  diffused  its  brightness  over  the 
great,  youthful  city,  presaging  the  approach  of  an  ec- 
clesiastical pageant  of  unequaled  grandeur.  Before  the 
sun  had  long  risen  beyond  the  eastern  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan,  the  streets  of  the  North  Side,  leading  to  the 
cathedral,  were  filled  with  throngs  of  people  hastening 
to  the  church  from  all  parts  of  the  city.  The  clergy 
assembled  in  the  halls  of  the  cathedral  parish  school 
building,  while  the  spacious  cathedral  residence  was 
designated  the  place  for  the  reception  of  the  Most  Rev. 
and  Right  Rev.  Prelates. 

Shortly  before  the  hour  named,  the  procession  of 
nearly  four  hundred  priests,  headed  by  the  cross-bearer 
and  a  large  number  of  acolytes  filed  out  of  the  school- 
house  on  Cass  Street,  turning  west  on  Superior,  then 
north  on  State  to  the  main  entrance  of  the  cathedral; 
after  them  came  the  Brothers,  teachers  of  the  boys' 
schools,  followed  by  the  reverend  clergy,  superiors  of 
seminaries  and  colleges,  the  vicar-generals,  and  lastly 


HIS    SILVER   JUBILEE  191 

by  the  prelates  who  came  forth  from  the  parochial  resi- 
dence, each  being  accompanied  by  a  chaplain. 

His  Grace,  surrounded  by  the  ministers  of  the  Mass 
clad  in  rich  vestments  and  preceded  by  the  Rev.  M. 
Mackin  carrying  the  Archiepiscopal  Cross,  came  last. 
The  procession  of  priests  moved  up  the  center  aisle,  and 
as  it  advanced,  opened  out,  permitting  the  dignitaries 
to  pass  through  the  ranks  into  the  sanctuary  and  take 
their  places  at  the  right  and  left  of  the  high  altar.  The 
clergy  were  placed  around  the  side  of  the  altars  and  in 
the  front  pews ;  representatives  of  the  different  religious 
communities  in  the  city  occupied  pews  to  the  rear  of  the 
clergy. 

The  noble  and  commanding  figure  of  His  Grace  in 
his  official  robes,  his  singularly  mild  and  benignant 
countenance,  the  solemn  procession  of  priests  and 
bishops,  the  rich  notes  of  the  grand  organ  enveloping 
the  hearts  of  the  entranced  listeners  with  their  varying 
modulations,  created  a  scene  grand,  impressive,  un- 
equaled  before  within  the  walls  of  the  Holy  Name  Ca- 
thedral. In  the  streets  around  the  cathedral  there  was 
a  dense  mass  of  human  beings,  doorways,  windows  and 
every  other  prominent  point  from  which  a  view  could 
be  obtained  being  filled  with  curious  and  interested 
spectators.  So  great  was  the  crowd  that  only  with  ex- 
treme difficulty  could  the  police  effect  a  passage  for  the 
procession,  and  it  required  no  little  exertion  to  keep 
people  from  breaking  in  on  the  line  of  march,  though 
with  uncovered  heads  and  reverent  looks  all  viewed  the 
great  churchmen  as  they  silently  passed  along. 

In  the  celebration  of  the  Pontifical  High  Mass,  the 
Archbishop  was  assisted  by  the  following  priests :  Very 
Rev.  D.  M.  J.  Dowling,  V.  G.,  assistant  priest;  deacons 
of  honor:  Rev.  Th.  Burke  and  Fred.  Kalvelage;  deacon 


192        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

of  the  Mass:  Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons ;  sub-deacon: 
Rev.  F.  N.  Perry;  masters  of  ceremonies:  Rev.  P.  J. 
Muldoon,  Rev.  N.  J.  Mooney  and  Bro.  Harrington. 
The  celebrant  seated  on  the  elevated  throne  on  the 
right  facing  the  congregation,  under  a  magnificent 
canopy  of  purple  cloth  fringed  with  gold  embroideries, 
surrounded  by  the  ministers  of  the  Mass,  each  in 
rich  vestments,  crowned  with  a  magnificently  jeweled 
mitre,  holding  in  his  gloved  hand  the  archiepisco- 
pal  crozier,  a  gift  for  the  occasion,  the  pallium 
gracefully  lapped  over  the  chasuble,  prelates  arrayed 
in  purple  mantelette,  rochet  and  cassock,  white  sur- 
pliced  priests,  and  the  various  garb  of  the  religious 
orders  offered  a  grand  spectacle  to  the  assembled 
faithful. 

After  the  first  Gospel  the  Right  Rev.  John  J.  Ho- 
gan,  D.  D.,  of  Kansas  City,  ascended  the  pulpit  and 
delivered  a  masterly  sermon.  He  paid,  through  it  all, 
a  most  touching  and  graceful  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
venerable  Prelate,  reviewing  his  life  and  his  work,  and 
in  conclusion  said: 

"Ten  years  ago  I  spoke  to  you  from  this  sacred  place, 
when  your  illustrious  Prelate  received  upon  his  shoul- 
ders the  blessed  pallium,  brought  from  the  tomb  of  St. 
Peter,  bespeaking  in  him  the  virtues  you  have  every 
day  since  witnessed — humility,  meekness,  charity,  apos- 
tolic zeal.  I  told  you  then  that  God  was  about  to  bless 
you,  and  that  the  blessing  He  was  about  to  give  you  was 
one  of  the  greatest  you  could  receive — the  blessing  of 
having  a  good  pastor,  a  pastor  according  to  God's  own 
heart.  'I  will  give  you  pastors  according  to  My  own 
heart,'  saith  the  Lord,  'and  they  shall  feed  you  with 
knowledge  and  doctrine.'  I  told  you,  faithful  Catholics 
of  Chicago,  who  have  done  so  much  for  religion,  who 


HIS    SILVER   JUBILEE  193 

have  clung  to  your  faith  in  the  dark  hours  of  adversity, 
in  the  weakness  of  the  early  beginning  of  our  holy 
Church  here,  that  in  reward  of  your  fidelity,  God  had  a 
great  and  special  blessing  in  store  for  you.  And  has  not 
the  promise  been  fulfilled?  Do  you  not  see,  and  rejoice 
in  the  fulfillment  of  that  promise  today?  And  seeing  all 
this,  and  in  the  ecstasy  of  rejoicement  for  it,  is  it  any 
wonder  that  you  throng  the  streets  of  this  great  city, 
that  you  crowd  the  aisles  of  this  beautiful  cathedral,  that 
you  bid  the  joy  bells  ring  out  their  peals  and  the  organ 
and  choir  unite  in  chorus,  and  that  you  kneel  before  the 
altar  at  the  solemn  Pontifical  Mass  thanking  God  for 
the  blessings  you  enjoy,  and  wishing  and  praying  for 
your  beloved,  devoted,  illustrious  Archbishop  that  God 
may  grant  him  yet  many  years  to  live,  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  Church,  and  for  the  happiness  and  joy  of  the 
devoted  clergy  and  people  confided  to  his  care?" 

Following  the  ceremonies  at  the  cathedral  a  magnifi- 
cent banquet  was  given  in  the  stately  banquet  hall  of 
the  Auditorium  Hotel  in  honor  of  the  Archbishop  and 
his  distinguished  guests,  the  visiting  bishops  and  clergy. 
The  hall  was  exquisitely  decorated  with  massive  banks 
of  flowers,  and  over  a  superb  floral  design  of  a  miter 
were  woven  in  red  carnations  the  words:  "Ad  multos 
annos."  It  was  a  spectacle  never  to  fade  from  one's 
memory;  a  picture  of  fairyland;  a  veritable  terrestrial 
paradise;  a  gorgeous  bower  of  roses,  each  flower  drunk 
with  its  own  incense,  whilst  myriad  slender  beams  shone 
from  constellations  of  minute  electric  stars,  blend- 
ing with  the  soft  rays  of  countless  wax  candles,  and  the 
ravishing  notes  of  music  swept  over  the  enchanting 
scene  in  great  waves  of  mellow  light  and  entrancing 
sounds. 

At  the  close  of  the  banquet  many  addresses  by  the 


194       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

distinguished  orators  present  were   delivered,   one  of 
which  is  here  reproduced.1 

The  address  of  the  clergy  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chi- 
cago to  His  Grace,  the  Most  Rev.  Patrick  A.  Fee- 
han,  delivered  by  the  Very  Rev.  D.  M.  J.  Dowling, 
Vicar-General  of  the  Archdiocese: 

"Your  Grace:  A  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed 
since  the  miter  you  wear  and  have  honored  was  placed 
upon  your  head.  Your  333  priests  and  500,000  faithful 
people  offer  you  greetings,  the  kindliest,  on  this  silver 
jubilee  of  your  elevation  to  the  episcopacy.  The  ten 
years  you  have  ruled  our  glorious  young  Church  merit 
the  priestly  tribute  of  reverence  and  loyalty  we  offer 
you  today  and  the  magnificent  lay  demonstration  of 
affection  and  veneration  which  the  streets  of  your  metro- 
politan city  will  present  to  you  tonight.  Your  apostolic 
career  for  fifteen  years  in  Tennessee  was  a  most  grati- 
fying contribution  to  the  religious  zeal,  the  heartfelt 
solicitude,  the  encouraging  sympathy,  the  gladdening 
consolation  and  happy  salvation  of  fallen  and  suffering 
humanity.  Those  who  were  struggling  out  of  the  mis- 
eries that  desolating  war  spread  over  the  land,  the  un- 
fortunate ones  that  grinding  poverty  held  in  remorse- 
less grasp,  the  orphans  that  resistless  and  death-dealing 
pestilence  made  your  inheritance,  and  the  children  whose 
lives  have  since  shed  luster  on  the  religious  and  edu- 
cational training  of  their  youth,  rejoice  with  you  on  this 
grand  day  and  pray  for  God's  choicest  blessings  on  you, 
their  kind  protector,  fond  father,  devoted  master 
and  faithful  shepherd. 

i  A  complete  history  of  the  Jubilee  celebration  is  contained  in  a 
book  entitled:  "Souvenir  of  the  Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan's  Silver  Jubilee 
in  the  Episcopacy."  This  book,  beginning  with  the  advent  of  Pere 
Marquette  is  an  interesting  history  of  the  growth  of  Catholicism  in 
what  is  now  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago. 


THE  VERY  EEV.  D.  M.  J.  DOWLING 
Vicar    General    of   Archbishop    Feehan 

(1888-1900) 
Died  in  June,  1900 


HIS   SILVER   JUBILEE  195 

"Fifteen  years  of  unalloyed  devotion  to  duty  that  re- 
quired sublimest  charity,  the  most  faultless  administra- 
tive ability,  and  most  zealous,  unfaltering  devotion  to 
the  Holy  Church  at  Nashville  merited  the  well-bestowed 
recognition,  when  at  the  death  of  saintly  Bishop  Foley, 
loved  and  lamented  by  priests  and  people,  the  Holy  See, 
at  the  request  of  the  Archbishop  and  Bishops  of  the 
Province  of  St.  Louis,  appointed  Your  Grace,  Arch- 
bishop of  the  new  Metropolitan  See  of  Chicago.  This 
was  just  ten  years  ago  and  never  in  the  growth  of  any 
city  has  such  progress  been  crowded  into  so  short  a 
space.  Even  the  magical  creation  of  the  mythical  cities 
of  fiction  and  fable  has  been  more  than  rivaled.  The 
record  of  unappreciable  result  and  apostolic  achievement 
that  are  the  history  of  this  period  of  our  Church  is  linked 
imperishably  with  Your  Grace's  name,  for  this  has  been 
the  church  building  epoch  of  our  history,  and  the  faith- 
ful of  twelve  distinct  nationalities  worship  at  the  holy 
altars  of  eighty  churches,  and  they  are  one  in  faith  and 
prayer  and  sacrifice.  It  is  also  the  Catholic  school 
building  epoch  of  our  history.  We  have  comparatively 
the  largest  parochial  school  attendance  of  any  diocese 
in  our  land,  and  the  recognition  of  the  city  school  au- 
thorities ranks  our  primary  and  grammar  schools  with 
theirs  and  guarantees  their  efficiency  to  the  skeptical 
as  well  as  to  the  confiding. 

"It  has  been  the  epoch  of  unsurpassed  development  in 
the  growth  of  institutions  that  were  required  to  meet  the 
spiritual  and  corporal  and  moral  needs  of  our  ever  in- 
creasing multitudes  of  people.  This  epoch  is  teeming 
with  the  numbers  of  churches,  schools,  convents,  acad- 
emies, orphan  asylums,  industrial  schools,  hospitals  and 
homes  for  the  aged  and  the  Magdalen,  that  give  our 
diocese  a  pre-eminence  and  importance  that  the  proudest 


196        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

of  the  world's  cities  can  scarcely  boast.  (Applause.) 
Yet  this  wonderful  consummation  is  not  the  history  of 
the  development  of  ages,  or  even  of  one  generation,  but 
of  Your  Grace's  wise,  gentle,  firm  and  progressive  ad- 
ministration for  short  ten  years.  Is  not  this  glory 
enough,  the  making  of  the  grand  history  of  God's 
Church?  (Applause.) 

"Yet  there  is  another  phase  of  Your  Grace's  career 
that  calls  for  prof oundest  recognition  from  your  devoted 
clergy  today.  It  is  the  exquisite  harmony  between 
metropolitan  dignity,  apostolic  simplicity,  gentleness  of 
manner  and  kindness  of  heart  that  is  peculiarly  your 
own,  and  while  we  express  our  felicitations  and  congrat- 
ulations on  this  bright  Silver  Jubilee  of  your  consecra- 
tion to  the  episcopacy  in  proud  enthusiasm  over  Your 
Grace's  most  glorious  administration,  we  owe  it  to  every 
recollection  of  Your  Grace's  kindness  and  thoughtful- 
ness,  that  are  the  equal  portion  of  every  priest  in  your 
diocese,  to  proclaim  our  loyal  admiration,  true  devotion 
and  honest  reverence  for  Your  Grace's  personal  char- 
acter, 'ad  multos  annos.' '  (Applause.) 

His  Grace  was  visibly  moved  during  the  delivery  of 
the  address.  At  its  close  he  arose  amid  the  plaudits  of 
the  clergy  and  feelingly  responded  as  follows : 

"I  do  not  know  where  I  could  find  words  to  express 
adequately  my  sincere  thanks  not  only  for  your  address, 
but  also  for  all  that  you  have  done  to  make  this  day 
everything  that  it  is. 

"In  your  review  of  twenty-five  years  you  say  many 
generous  and  friendly  things;  you  refer  kindly  to  the 
fair  Southern  land,  where  I  spent  so  many  years,  and 
for  this  I  am  grateful,  for  Nashville,  and  the  diocese 
of  Nashville,  and  its  faithful,  kindly,  generous-hearted 
people  are  very  dear  to  me,  and  it  is  one  of  the  greatest 


HIS    SILVER   JUBILEE  197 

gratifications  of  our  festival  that  Nashville  comes  to  us 
today  represented  by  its  most  worthy  Bishop  and  its 
priests. 

"What  you  say  of  the  Church  in  the  Archdiocese  of 
Chicago  is  indeed  true;  she  has  kept  pace  with  even  the 
wonderful  growth  and  material  prosperity  of  this  great 
city.  But  this  progress  of  religion  is  due  under  God 
to  the  zeal  and  ability  and  self-sacrificing  labor  of  the 
clergy,  both  secular  and  regular. 

"On  an  occasion  like  this  I  cannot  forget  those  who 
have  so  largely  aided  the  clergy  in  their  labors  for  reli- 
gion— I  mean  the  members  of  those  great  religious  com- 
munities, who,  during  all  those  years,  have  labored  zeal- 
ously, efficiently  and  successfully  in  the  sacred  cause  of 
education  and  charity.  No  words  could  add  to  their 
merit,  and  no  reward  but  the  Supreme  One  they  toil 
for  could  compensate  them. 

"Very  much  has  been  done,  and  yet  we  are  only  pio- 
neers, planting  the  seed,  and  if  the  promise  of  the  seed- 
time is  such,  how  magnificent  will  be  the  golden  harvest, 
which  I  hope  many  of  you  will  live  to  see. 

"In  promoting  religion  and  education,  you  advance 
also  the  highest  interests  of  Chicago  and  of  all  the 
people. 

"We  have  read  of  an  ancient  city  that  was  guarded 
by  one  hundred  gates.  We  will  give  to  our  city  one  hun- 
dred gates  and  more;  not  of  brass,  like  those  of  the 
ancient  one,  but  of  most  pure  gold.  Those  gates  will 
be  the  temples  of  our  faith,  guarded  by  faithful  priests, 
and  a  loyal,  generous  people. 

"You  tell  me  what  of  all  things  else  is  most  grateful 
to  me,  of  your  affectionate  loyalty,  of  your  honest,  ear- 
nest sympathy.  This  to  me  is  the  greatest  joy  of  the 
Jubilee — the  best  and  brightest  crown  of  twenty-five 
years. 


198        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"This  day,  with  all  that  it  signifies,  will  be  for  me, 
while  I  live,  one  of  happy  memory.  It  will  lighten  many 
a  labor,  dissipate  many  a  care.  It  will  be  a  sun  to 
brighten  all  the  days  of  the  coming  years. 

"I  see  around  me  among  the  clergy  some  who  have 
already  known  and  endured  the  heat  and  burden  of  the 
day.  The  majority  of  the  faces  I  behold  are  youthful; 
for  all  there  is  a  grand  work  to  do  in  the  future. 

"I  earnestly  hope  and  pray  that  many,  very  many, 
may  live  to  celebrate  not  only  their  silver,  but  also 
many,  their  golden  jubilees." 

The  Archbishop  now  assumed  the  duty  of  toastmaster 
and  he  proposed  the  first  toast,  "Our  Holy  Father, 
Vicegerent  of  Christ,  Spiritual  Ruler  of  Christendom," 
saying:  "I  propose  long  life  to  Our  Holy  Father,  the 
Pope,  and  the  restoration  of  its  temporalities  to  the 
great  Church  of  Rome." 

To  this  toast  the  Rev.  Dr.  McGovern  responded.  The 
programme  was  then  carried  out  as  follows: 

"The  Visiting  Bishops" Archbishop  Byan  and  Elder 

"The  Clergy  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago" 

Rev.  E.  J.  Dunne 

"The  Visiting  Clergy" Rev.  D.  S.  Phelan,  of  St.  Louis 

Song  Quartet 

Fathers  Dore,  Kelley,  Callaghan  and  Mahoney 

"Our  Church  and  Our  Country" — A  Good  Catholic,  a 

Good  Citizen Bishop  Spalding,  of  Peoria 

"The  Catholic  Church  in  Chicago" — She  has  kept  pace 

with  the  unrivaled  growth  of  our  magnificent  city. . 

Rev.  D.  J.  McCaffrey 

His  Grace  then  congratulated  all  on  the  happy  ter- 
mination of  this  part  of  the  Silver  Jubilee  celebration,  and 
said  that  as  the  city  clergy  had  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  night  procession  of  their  congregations,  they 
would  now  adjourn. 

The  great  City  of  Chicago  presented  an  unwonted 


HIS   SILVER  JUBILEE  199 

appearance  on  the  night  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  October, 
1890.  The  Church  ceremonial  in  the  morning  had 
been  viewed  or  assisted  at  by  a  few  thousand  people; 
now  the  whole  city  of  Chicago  was  made  spectator  of 
the  grandest  popular  pageant  that  was  ever  witnessed 
in  this  country. 

Down  from  the  North  Side  came  the  members  and 
societies  of  the  great  parishes  of  the  Holy  Name,  St. 
Michael  and  St.  Joseph,  followed  by  those  of  the  sur- 
rounding congregations;  from  the  West  Side  came 
legions  of  Poles  and  Bohemians,  from  the  parishes  of 
St.  Stanislaus  and  St.  Procopius;  the  parishes  of  the 
Holy  Family  and  the  Sacred  Heart,  St.  Columbkill, 
St.  Malachy,  St.  Charles  Borromeo  and  St.  Patrick, 
sent  thousands  to  increase  the  ranks,  so  that  the  bridges 
leading  to  the  South  Side  were  like  rivers  of  flame  as 
the  marching  cohorts  crossed  them,  carrying  their 
torches  and  banners. 

The  large  parishes  of  St.  James,  the  Nativity,  St. 
Gabriel,  St.  Bridget,  All  Saints,  St.  Cecilia,  St.  Anne 
and  St.  Peter  sent  great  contingents,  swelled  in  numbers 
from  the  other  parishes  on  the  South  Side,  while  the 
suburban  trains  brought  into  the  city  thousands  of  peo- 
ple from  the  outlying  districts,  all  anxious  to  see  or  take 
part  in  the  Silver  Jubilee  parade.  At  9  o'clock,  when 
the  cannon  boom  resounded  the  signal  to  march,  sixty 
thousand  people  started  in  the  most  orderly  procession 
that  ever  took  place  in  Chicago.  The  Archbishop,  his 
guests  and  the  clergy,  occupied  the  main  balcony  of  the 
Auditorium,  an  excellent  vantage-point  on  Michigan 
Boulevard  from  which  to  review  the  procession.  At 
9:30  the  point  of  review  was  reached  and  for  three 
hours  a  great  living  stream  poured  along  the  great 
thoroughfare,  while  cheers  upon  cheers  arose  in  loud 


200       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

acclaim,  and  greetings  of  love  and  loyalty  were  shouted 
upwards  to  His  Grace,  in  many  languages,  as  his  de- 
voted children  marched  by. 

At  intervals  the  procession  was  bewildering  in  its 
variety  and  magnitude.  Amid  the  booming  of  cannon, 
the  rattling  of  drums,  the  martial  music  of  one  hun- 
dred bands,  there  was  a  steady  flow  of  uniformed  sol- 
diery, societies  wearing  gorgeous  regalias  of  green  and 
gold,  or  purple  and  gold.  Young  ladies  attired  with 
exquisite  taste  in  fantastic  national  costumes,  each 
carrying  silken  flags  of  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  sing- 
ing hymns  of  praise.  Cadets  in  blue,  red  and  gold,  and 
young  men's  societies  with  beautiful  emblems  and  trans- 
parencies ;  numberless  carriages,  decked  out  with  flower 
wreaths  and  flags;  old  men,  young  men,  women,  boys 
and  girls,  carrying  torches;  rockets  bursting  forth  into 
showers  of  stars,  Roman  candles  darting  out  countless 
brilliantly  colored  balls,  filling  the  atmosphere  with 
radiance,  all  concurring  to  create  a  scene  that  reached 
fairly  beyond  the  ordinary  power  of  description. 

On  a  large  stand  opposite  the  Auditorium,  in  Lake 
Park,  a  framework  had  been  erected,  and  on  it  was 
traced  in  charming  design  a  large  cross  between  a  miter 
and  a  crozier,  and  under  them  were  the  words,  "Most 
Reverend  P.  A.  Feehan." 

The  gorgeous  spectacle  of  October  29th  made  a  last- 
ing impression  on  the  minds  of  all  who  witnessed  it,  and 
became  a  very  important  event  in  the  history  of  the 
Catholic  Church  in  Chicago. 


CHAPTER  XV 
THE  CHILDREN'S  CELEBRATION 

FIVE  THOUSAND  CHILDREN  PRESENT — THE  PROGRAMME — TWO 
ADDRESSES  FROM  THE  ORPHANS — ADDRESS  BY  THE  BOYS  FROM 
FEEHANVILLE — SPEECH  BY  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN — POEM  BY 
JOHN  T.  MC  NELLIS. 

THE  celebration  of  the  Silver  Jubilee  on  Thursday 
morning  by  the  children  attending  the  parochial  schools 
of  the  archdiocese  is  another  of  the  brightest  occurrences 
in  this  memorable  event  of  the  Catholic  history  of  Chi- 
cago. As  the  Auditorium  could  only  accommodate 
a  limited  number,  and  as  there  were  45,000  children  at- 
tending the  parochial  schools,  it  was  determined  to  in- 
vite only  representatives  from  each  school  to  attend  the 
exercises. 

Accompanied  by  the  teachers  on  Thursday  morning, 
from  far  and  near,  thousands  of  children  were  seen 
wending  their  way  to  the  great  Auditorium;  they  came 
in  orderly  array,  with  flags  and  banners,  the  girls  attired 
in  white  dresses,  with  blue,  pink,  red  or  green  ribbons; 
the  boys  in  dark  suits,  manly  little  fellows,  and 
though  there  was  a  wintry  touch  in  the  air  the  children 
did  not  heed  it.  The  chosen  ones  to  the  number  of  5,000 
filled  the  immense  theater  from  pit  to  dome,  every  tier 
densely  packed  with  bright  young  faces  beaming  with 
joy  and  happiness  through  masses  of  beautiful  flowers, 
and  a  veritable  maze  of  banners  and  flags.  They  had 
come  from  all  quarters  of  the  great  city,  from  the  man- 
sions of  the  rich  and  the  humble  cottages  of  the  poor, 
to  sanctify  their  young  hearts  and  prepare  for  the 
solemn  duties  of  life  by  this  grand  profession  of  love, 
fealty  and  devotion  to  their  illustrious  spiritual  father 
upon  the  occasion  of  his  Silver  Jubilee. 

201 


202       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

When  His  Grace,  surrounded  by  the  distinguished 
members  of  the  Hierarchy,  who  had  remained  to  witness 
this  grand  assemblage  of  Chicago  Catholic  school  chil- 
dren, and  escorted  by  the  clergy  of  the  archdiocese, 
came  upon  the  platform,  a  magnificent  scene  presented 
itself  to  his  view;  it  was  picturesque,  striking  and  sig- 
nificant, outreaching  the  sublimest  inspiration  of  poet's 
song  or  painter's  graphic  pencil.  He  saw  children  of 
every  nationality,  white  children,  colored  children,  deaf 
mutes,  orphans  and  boys  from  his  Training  School;  he 
saw  a  vast,  terraced  flower  garden  of  young  humanity, 
flowers  of  every  kind  and  hue,  such  as  gladdened  the 
heart  of  Him  Who  said:  "Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  Me." 

The  programme  was  appropriate,  expressive,  and  in 
every  sense  admirably  conducted.  A  feature  full  of 
pathos  and  which  touched  the  heart  of  every  one  present 
was  the  address  of  the  deaf  mutes  to  their  beloved  father 
and  benefactor.  These  poor,  afflicted  children,  wrapped 
in  the  silence  of  the  tomb,  poured  forth  in  a  language 
of  signs  all  the  expression  of  that  love,  devotion  and 
gratitude  which  the  sublime  character  and  personality 
of  this  heroic  protector  of  little  children  had  inspired 
in  their  tender  hearts.  Before  their  address  was  com- 
pleted the  venerable  prelate  was  visibly  affected  by  the 
unutterable  sadness  of  the  incident,  and  the  eyes  of 
thousands  in  the  vast  audience  were  moistened  with 

tears. 

PROGRAMME 

Music Grand  Welcome  March 

Jubilee  Hymn Grand  Chorus  by  all  the  Pupils 

Introductory Very  Rev.  D.  M.  Dowling,  V.  G. 

Colored  Pupils Address  and  Song 

Italian  Pupils Address  and  Song 

French  Canadian  Pupils Address  and  Song 

Music..  Grand  Orchestra 


THE   CHILDREN'S  CELEBRATION  203 

German  Pupils Address  and  Song 

German  Orphans Address  and  Song 

Columbia Grand  Chorus 

Bohemian  Pupils. Address  and  Song 

Polish  Pupils National  Operetta 

Polish  Pupils Address  and  Song 

Music    Orchestra 

Deaf  Mute  Pupils Sing-song  Address 

English  Speaking  Pupils: 

Address North  Side  Pupils 

Address West  Side  Pupils 

Address South  Side  Pupils 

Address Pupils  Outside  the  City 

"Star  Spangled  Banner" Grand  Chorus 

St.  Joseph's  Orphans Address  and  Song 

Feehanville  Training  School  Pupils ....  Address  and  Song 

Jubilee  Benediction Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan,  D.  D. 

Thanksgiving  Hymn Grand  Chorus 

Orchestra. 

Of  all  these  addresses  delivered  to  the  Archbishop  we 
will  reproduce  here  only  three,  two  from  the  orphans 
and  one  from  the  boys  of  St.  Mary's  Training  School 
at  Feehanville;  for,  whilst  exercising  throughout  his 
entire  life  the  most  paternal  solicitude  for  all  the  chil- 
dren, the  orphans  and  the  neglected  and  misled  youths 
had  been  at  all  times  his  special  care.  Their  recognition 
and  acknowledgment  of  his  fatherly  love  and  Christian 
piety  can  best  be  seen  and  felt  in  the  sentiments  ex- 
pressed in  their  own  language. 

GERMAN  CATHOLIC  ORPHANS,  HIGH  RIDGE,  ILL. 

"Most  Rev.  Archbishop: 

"We,  the  German  Catholic  orphans  of  this  diocese, 
would  also  offer  our  weak  endeavors  to  swell  the  great 
stream  of  congratulations  brought  to  Your  Grace  to- 
day. We  rejoice  so  much  the  more  because  it  is  the 
spiritual  head  of  our  diocese  who  celebrates  today  a 
festival  both  rare  and  sublime. 


204       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"Twenty-five  years  ago — what  a  long  time! — God 
made  you  a  Bishop.  Today  the  Catholics  of  this  diocese 
rejoice  on  the  anniversary  of  their  spiritual  head,  the 
joy  and  pride  of  the  faithful  and  the  father  of  the  or- 
phans. 

"We  have  lost  our  natural  protectors  by  death.  The 
loss  of  our  parents  causes  a  loneliness,  sad  and  supreme, 
which  only  orphans  can  know  and  feel,  but  kind  hearts 
and  willing  hands  have  performed  a  great  work  of  love 
to  provide  for  our  childhood,  guide  our  youth  and 
brighten  our  lives. 

"Therefore,  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  do  we  assert 
on  this  day  of  Catholic  rejoicing,  that,  owing  to  the 
benevolent  and  educational  institutions  which,  under 
your  care  and  protection,  have  sprung  up  and  flourish, 
the  sadness  of  our  lot  is  not  only  mitigated,  but  turned 
into  grateful  gladness  at  the  thought  that  our  good  Arch- 
bishop watches  over  us  with  fatherly  care  and  protec- 
tion, and  provides  for  our  physical,  mental  and  moral 
welfare. 

"We  will  try  to  be  grateful.  May  our  actions  afford 
you  the  consolation  that  the  orphans  whom  you  have 
fostered  have  lived  to  be  good  followers  of  Christ. 

"Rest  assured,  Most  Reverend  Archbishop,  that  the 
orphans  will  continue  to  pray  for  your  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare. 

"With  all  the  earnestness  of  childlike  devotion  we  will 
beseech  God  to  grant  already  as  a  temporal  reward  long 
life  to  our  wise,  kind  and  benevolent  Archbishop." 

ST.  JOSEPH'S  ORPHANS 

A  dozen  girls  from  the  St.  Joseph's  Orphan  Asylum 
addressed  the  Archbishop  in  chorus: 

"Your  Grace: — We,  the  Orphans  of  St.  Joseph's 


205 

Providence  Orphan  Asylum,  beg  leave  to  bring  to  Your 
Grace  on  this  glorious  Silver  Jubilee  the  humblest  of- 
fering of  all — The  Orphans  Gratitude.  Had  we  some 
fair  bright  vase  of  silver  in  which  to  enshrine  our  poor 
offering,  and  present  it  to  Your  Grace,  it  might  seem 
the  more  acceptable.  But  the  vase  which  holds  our 
offering  is  the  Orphans  Heart.  Believe,  beloved  Prel- 
ate, as  long  as  our  lives  shall  last,  your  name  and  your 
goodness  shall  be  deeply  engraven  thereon. 

"Into  our  shadowed  lives  flashed  the  bright  news  that 
we,  your  orphan  children,  would  be  permitted  to  join 
our  childish  voices  to  the  pasan  of  praises  and  joy  that 
arise  from  the  hearts  of  the  multitude  who  own  your 
gentle  sway.  And  we  bring  to  the  silver  sound  of  your 
joyous  jubilate  no  sad  minor  wail  of  woe,  no  discordant 
sigh  of  sorrow  to  mar  the  perfect  harmony  of  this  Silver 
Jubilee.  By  your  care  and  kindness,  beloved  Arch- 
bishop, we  are  rescued  from  a  life  of  want  and  misery, 
we  are  surrounded  by  good  and  holy  influences,  we  are 
trained  to  a  life  of  usefulness  by  devoted,  careful  in- 
structresses. 

"Blessings  on  the  head  that  has  planned,  on  the  heart 
that  has  prompted,  on  the  hand  that  has  wrought  so 
much  for  the  Orphan's  Weal. 

"May  God's  choicest  blessings  fall  in  silver  radiance 
upon  your  hallowed  feast,  is  the  prayer  of  your  grate- 
ful orphans." 

ST.  MARY'S  TRAINING  SCHOOL 
"Most  Rev.  Archbishop: 

"Whilst  all  your  numerous  friends  and  well  wishers 
are  burning  with  holy  ardor  in  expressing  their  warmest 
congratulations  on  this  glorious  occasion,  the  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  of  your  elevation  to  the  exalted  dignity 

is 


206       THE  LIFE  OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

of  the  episcopate,  it  would  ill  become  the  inmates  of  St. 
Mary's  Training  School,  your  own  Feehanville,  to  show 
any  lack  of  fervor  in  so  laudable  a  demonstration. 

"Feehanville  is  one  of  the  many  monuments  of  your 
charitable  zeal  and  heroic  self-sacrificing  devotedness  to 
the  welfare  of  humanity  that  will  perpetuate  your  name 
unto  future  generations,  crowned  with  the  blessings  of 
multitudes  in  every  age.  Gladly  then  do  we  come  to 
offer  our  tribute  of  gratitude,  love  and  veneration,  and 
to  join  our  voices  to  the  general  outbursts  of  rejoicing 
and  felicitations.  We,  too,  congratulate  ourselves  on 
having  so  grand  an  opportunity  as  that  of  your  Silver 
Jubilee  to  express  our  admiration  of  the  many  noble 
qualities  that  endear  our  beloved  Archbishop  to  all  who 
have  the  happiness  of  knowing  him,  especially  to  those 
of  his  own  archdiocese,  in  whose  heart  his  name  and 
memory  are  enshrined  with  ever-increasing  devotedness. 

"Chicago  rejoices,  as  well  she  may,  in  such  an  acquisi- 
tion as  adds  a  new  and  crowning  glory  to  her  increasing 
greatness. 

"And  we,  Most  Reverend  Archbishop,  so  highly  fa- 
vored, the  objects  of  your  munificence  and  kindness,  re- 
joice with  exceeding  joy  in  seeing  all  these  honors  paid 
to  whom  honor  is  due  and  in  witnessing  this  magnificent 
celebration  of  your  Silver  Jubilee.  And  it  is  our  earnest 
wish  and  will  be  our  fervent  prayer  that  Heaven  may 
lengthen  your  years  until  we  have  the  happiness  of 
celebrating  your  golden  jubilee. 

"Once  more,  beloved  Archbishop,  permit  us  to  offer 
you  our  humble,  but  sincere  and  most  affectionate  con- 
gratulations." 

Archbishop  Feehan,  at  the  conclusion  of  this  address, 
advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  platform  and  spoke  as  fol- 
lows: 


THE   CHILDREN'S  CELEBRATION  207 

My  Dear  Children: 

"I  have  seen  in  my  life  vast  and  beautiful  scenes,  but 
the  scene  that  is  here  today  is  the  most  beautiful  I  have 
ever  witnessed;  not  merely  because  it  presents  to  the 
eye  a  most  charming  picture,  but  it  is  beautiful  because 
of  all  that  it  signifies.  You  bring  a  joy  today  to  all 
that  are  here  present. 

"I  cannot  express  the  gratitude  I  feel  at  the  events 
of  yesterday  and  today.  Many  kind  and  generous  things 
were  said  yesterday,  but  none  more  pleasant  to  me  than 
what  you  have  been  saying  for  the  last  two  or  three 
hours.  Everything  you  have  said  was  so  natural  and 
becoming,  and  so  evidently  from  your  hearts,  that  the 
impression  it  has  made  upon  me  is  one  that  will  last  as 
long  as  I  live.  To  all  of  you  it  will  be  a  memory  that 
will  last  for  years  to  come.  You  will  remember  it  was 
not  merely  a  pleasure  to  you,  but  that  it  was  a  day 
when  you  were  young,  a  day  on  which  you  made  a  strik- 
ing profession  of  the  Catholic  faith  that  is  in  your 
hearts.  In  all  your  songs  and  all  your  addresses  there 
was  that  spirit;  the  spirit  of  the  young,  whose  hearts, 
fresh  and  pure,  are  filled  with  the  love,  one  may  say 
with  the  loveliness,  that  comes  only  from  God.  It  would 
be  a  very  happy  thing  for  the  Archbishop  if  he  could 
always  live  among  such  scenes;  it  would  be  a  joy  to 
me.  How  pleasant  would  be  the  bishop's  life  if  the 
miter  and  the  crozier  were  made  of  flowers,  with  no 
ugly  thorns  concealed  within  their  colored  petals. 

"But  my  dear  children,  there  is  also  an  idea  in  your 
coming  today,  which  is  this :  You  have  come  here  from 
the  many  schools  and  placed  a  crown,  as  it  were,  a  crown 
upon  the  labors  of  the  years.  You  also  placed  a  crown 
upon  the  heads  of  your  devoted  teachers,  to  whom  our 
thanks  are  due  for  the  appearance  you  have  made  to- 


208        THE   LIFE    OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

day.  In  your  schools  you  have  been  taught  to  love  God, 
to  love  your  homes,  and  to  love  our  country.  My  chil- 
dren, love  your  homes ;  the  homes  of  a  land  are  the  source 
of  its  greatness.  No  one  who  loves  his  country  but  must 
wish  that  homes  like  those  from  which  you  come  today 
may  continue  to  increase  and  shed  their  blessings  upon 
our  native  land.  Again  I  must  tell  you  how  grateful 
I  am  for  all  the  kindly  things  you  have  said  to  me. 

"Now,  my  dear  children,  let  me  close  by  a  request  to 
your  teachers,  which  I  know  will  find  an  echo  in  your 
hearts.  Let  me  request  them  to  grant  you,  in  honor  of 
this  great  gathering,  a  holiday  on  Wednesday  next." 

Numerous  celebrations  in  honor  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
han  took  place  in  the  educational  institutions  of  the 
archdiocese.  They  were  inaugurated  by  a  brilliant 
School  Fete  given  at  St.  Patrick's  Academy,  Oakley 
and  Park  Avenues.  This  entertainment  was  invested 
with  marked  social  features  by  the  fact  that  the  Mother 
Superior  presiding  over  the  Mercy  Nuns  in  charge  of 
the  academy,  was  a  sister  of  the  Archbishop. 

It  would  be  too  long  to  give  the  details  of  all  these 
various  celebrations,  and  besides  they  may  be  read  in 
the  jubilee  book  to  which  reference  has  already  been 
made;  however,  among  the  echoes  of  the  Silver  Jubilee 
from  St.  Ignatius  College,  we  select  a  poem  which  is  a 
beautiful  tribute  to  the  Christian  charity  and  courage 
of  the  great  Archbishop  during  the  plagues  which 
visited  the  South  while  he  was  Bishop  of  Nashville, 
Tenn.  The  poem  is  by  John  T.  McNellis  and  well 
worth  insertion  in  full. 

PROEM 

Joy!  Joy,  dear  father,  to  thee, 
On  the  feast  of  thy  jubilee, 

While  myriad  voices  of  praise 
Are  winged  with  unwonted  glee! 


THE   CHILDREN'S  CELEBRATION  209 

These  greetings  are  more  than  gold, 
For  they  tell  of  love  untold. 

And,  like  to  the  winds  of  the  South, 
Their  ardor  can  ne'er  grow  cold. 

The  iSouth!  how  its  name  doth  fill 
Our  fancy  with  scenes  that  thrill! 

For  we  dream  it  an  Eden  of  Joy, 
Untouched  by  the  demons  of  ill. 

Yet  the  South  doth  also  recall 
A  tale  which  we  Jove  best  of  all, 

How  the  breath  of  the  yellow  plague 
Did  the  courage  of  men  enthrall; 

And  then  rose  a  noble  priest, 

Whose  fame  with  his  years  has  increased, 

A  pastor  who  dared  for  his  flock, 
And  we  sing  of  his  deeds  on  his  feast. 


THE  TALE 

In  the  Southland  lies  a  clime 

Where  more  brilliant  shines  the  sun, 
And,  while  here  the  wintry  rime 

Garbs  the  trees,  there  blossoms  run 
O'er  the  fields  and  'mid  the  glades, 
Making  sweet  the  darkened  shades, 
With  a  hue  that  (never  fades. 

In  this  land  of  sunny  skies, 

Fertile  fields,  and  mossy  dales, 
Where  the  plumaged  birds  arise 

From  the  tree%  that  deck  the  vales, 
When   the   evening  bells   resound, 
Grateful  people  gather  round, 
Praising  God  for  peace  profound. 

But,  alas !  this  beauteous  land 
Soon  is  stricken  by  disease; 

Those  fair  fields,  so  lately  fanned 
By  the  health-bestowing  breeze, 

Now  are  dimmed,  as  if  the  sun, 

Palled  in  clouds  of  deepest  dun, 

Had  forgot  his  course  to  run. 


210   THE  LIFE  OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Who  can  speak  the  wild  despair 

Of  the  land  so  lately  blest? 
For  the  tainted,  shuddering  air 

Told  them  of  a  fearful  guest; 
Yellow  fever  was  its  name, 
Who  amid  their  homesteads  came, 
Blight'ning  them  like  blasting  flame. 

See  how,  'neath  the  monster's  touch, 
Stalwart  men  are  stricken  down; 

How  the  fever's  baleful  clutch 
Holds  in  gyves  the  fated  town; 

Mothers  leave  their  sons  to  die, 

Brothers  from  their  sisters  fly, 

Children  heed  no  parents'  cry. 

Is  there  none  with  heart  so  brave, 

As  to  dare  the  yellow  foe? 
Is  there  no  bold  hand  to  save 

Dying  men  from  deeper  woe? 
Yes,  when  all  that's  dear  on  earth 
Has  betrayed  love's  deepest  dearth 
Then  we  learn  the  pastor's  worth ! 

'Mid  the  horrors  of  the  dead, 
And  the  groans  of  dying  men, 

Who,  with  soft  and  loving  tread, 
Showed  himself  a  hero  then? 

Who,  but  he,  upon  whose  brow, 

Which  the  gifts  of  God  endow, 

Gleams  the  jeweled  miter  now. 

He  it  was  who  met  the  foe 
When  the  yellow  plague  was  rife,    - 

He  it  was  whose  whisper  low 

Cheered  the  lingering  gleam  of  life; 

He  it  was  who  blessed  the  head 

Writhing  on  pain's  bitter  bed, 

He  it  was  who  tombed  the  dead. 

Wonder  not,  then,  if  we  bring 
Joyous  gifts  to  speak  our  love. 

Wonder  not,  then,  if  we  sing 
Of  the  star-like  crown  above; 

For  upon  the  Southern  breeze, 

Redolent  of  harmonies, 

Swell  such  grateful  prayers  as  these. 


THE   CHILDREN'S  CELEBRATION  211 

Honor,  then,  to  him  whose  hand 

Hath  been  ever  stretched  to  save, 
Honor  him  whose  courage  grand 

Ranks  him  with  the  priestly  brave! 
Honor  to  our  shepherd  be, 
While  we  sing  with  sacred  glee, 
On  his  Silver  Jubilee. 


L'ENVOI 

», 
Thus,  on  thy  silver  feast, 
Amid  the  gleam  of  autumn's  golden  hours, 
When  the  choicest  greetings  fall  on  thee  in  showers, 
We  come,  O  Mitered  Priest! 

Thy  truest  children  we, 

Who  fondly  gather  here  in  gladsome  throng, 
To  tell  our  love,  with  welcome  word,  and  song, 

Upon  thy  Jubilee. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  EVENING  CELEBRATION 

THE  ARCHBISHOP  IS  SHOWN  TO  BE  A  FATHER  TO  ALL  NATION- 
ALITIES— THE  ADDRESSES  IN  VARIOUS  LANGUAGES — ADDRESS 
BY  THE  NEGRO  CATHOLICS — SPEECH  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP — 
HIS  GRATITUDE. 

FIVE  thousand  Catholic  citizens,  representing  every 
nationality  in  Chicago,  crowded  to  overflowing  the 
Auditorium  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  and  listened 
to  addresses  of  congratulation  to  the  Archbishop,  read 
in  their  native  tongues. 

With  a  rare  gift  of  penetration  into  every  phase  of 
human  life,  which  was  one  of  the  conspicuous  attributes 
of  the  great  Prelate,  unlocking  for  him  the  most  stub- 
born sociological  problems,  he  realized  the  paramount 
necessity  and  salutary  effect  of  gradually  blending  all 
the  various  elements  of  the  Catholic  population  into  one 
concordant  whole.  To  consummate  this  end  he  was 
careful  not  to  run  counter  suddenly,  rashly  and  arbi- 
trarily to  national  traditions,  customs  and  environment, 
by  the  assignment  to  parishes  of  pastors  who  were  not 
by  birth  and  association  so  well  qualified  to  guard,  advise 
and  nurture  the  flocks  as  those  of  the  same  race  or 
nationality,  who  were  familiar  with  their  people's  cast 
of  minds,  national  customs  and  traditions.  His  policy 
was  to  give  to  each  foreign  congregation  a  pastor  of 
their  own  nationality,  who  was  doubly  in  sympathy  with 
the  people,  both  from  natural  and  religious  motives. 
For,  well  he  realized  that  in  time's  great  alembic,  all 
elements  of  discord  being  eliminated  during  the  process 
of  amalgamation,  the  entire  Catholic  population  would 

212 


THE  VERY  REV.  JAMES  McGOVERN,  D.  D. 

Author    of    "The    Souvenir    of    the    Silver    Jubilee    of 

Archbishop   Feehan" 


"ft  i 


THE   EVENING    CELEBRATION  213 

be  molded  into  one  homogeneous  body,  with  a  common 
fealty  to  its  religion  and  clergy,  and  with  no  jarring 
national  prejudices  to  mar  the  harmony  of  religious 
organization  and  spiritual  life. 

Noteworthy  among  the  many  eloquent  addresses  of 
the  Catholic  laity  to  their  spiritual  head  and  leader  was 
that  of  the  Negro  Catholics  of  the  archdiocese.  It  was 
due  to  the  wise  providence  and  far-reaching  judgment 
of  Archbishop  Feehan  that  the  first  negro  priest  was 
given  to  the  Chicago  mission. 

The  address  of  the  Negro  Catholics  of  Chicago,  to 
His  Grace,  the  Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan,  delivered  by 
Mr.  Lincoln  Valle: 

"Most   Rev.    Archbishop,    Right   Rev.    Fathers,    Mr. 
Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

"I  could  not  describe  to  you  my  feelings  if  I  did  not 
at  once  say  that  I  feel  specially  honored  by  the  invita- 
tion which  brings  me  before  you  on  this  occasion,  and, 
as  I  enter  upon  the  duty  which  the  acceptance  of  this 
invitation  imposes,  I  realize  my  inability  to  meet  your 
expectations  by  treating,  with  fulness  of  learning  and 
power,  the  subject  upon  which  I  am  to  speak. 

"Most  Reverend  Father,  you  have  heard  from  differ- 
ent nationalities  during  the  course  of  this,  your  Silver 
Jubilee,  and  while  we,  the  Negro  Catholics  of  Chicago, 
rejoice  in  your  long  ministerial  life,  we  think  it  most  fit- 
ting to  present  ourselves  before  you  tonight  with  a  few 
points  for  your  consideration.  We  wish  to  thank  you 
from  the  bottom  of  our  hearts  for  the  just  and  cordial 
treatment  you  have  always  accorded  to  us  during  your 
administration.  Your  love  for  us  has  been  genuine, 
pure  and  holy.  We  will  ever  cherish  your  memory  in 
our  minds  and  hearts.  We  feel,  also,  very  grateful  to 
you  for  bringing  into  our  midst  the  Rev.  Augustus  Tol- 


214       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

ton,  our  worthy  brother  in  race  and  creed,  as  through 
him  the  salvation  of  our  people,  in  a  great  measure, 
greatly  depends.  We,  the  Negroes  of  the  United 
States,  owe  to  Father  Tolton  a  debt  of  gratitude  for 
the  space  that  he  has  covered. 

"We  have  in  this  great  city  at  least  twenty-seveo 
thousand  Negroes;  out  of  that  number  but  a  few  are 
Catholics.  A  large  number  are  clearly  outside  of  any 
church;  they  have  souls,  and  could  be  brought  into  the 
Catholic  Church  if  the  proper  steps  were  taken;  all  we 
ask  is,  that  all  our  Catholic  friends  excite  that  one  Cath- 
olic zeal  and  help  us  in  reaching  our  own  dear  neglected 
people. 

"We  propose  to  unite  more  closely  together  a  better 
social  union  among  us,  in  order  to  improve  the  moral, 
mental  and  social  condition  of  our  people.  The  struggle 
is  still  and  forever  going  on — the  struggle  against  error. 

"Never  in  the  world's  history  was  there  a  freer  field 
to  fight  the  battle  of  God  than  in  this  city,  and  never 
yet,  take  them  all  in  all,  were  there  more  generous  foes 
to  contend  against.  But  let  it  be  borne  well  in  mind, 
the  battle  is  a  severe  one,  all  the  more  so,  perhaps,  be- 
cause the  field  is  so  open  and  the  Catholics  are  so  free. 
Here  in  America  there  is  nothing  of  the  glory  of  mar- 
tyrdom to  sustain  us  in  effort,  that  turns  defeat  into 
victory,  and  by  one  death  wins  a  thousand  lives. 

"Ours  is  not  the  clash  of  arms  and  of  battle,  but  a 
struggle  of  intellects.  The  Church  must  not  only  hold 
her  own,  but  she  must  also  win  others. 

"The  Catholics  of  these  United  States  have  right  at 
their  own  doors  one  of  the  greatest  of  social  questions: 
Eight  millions  of  negro  people  ask  to  be  lifted  up; 
Catholics  have  it  in  their  power  to  show  forth  in  the 
strongest  manner  the  social  power  of  their  faith. 


THE   EVENING   CELEBRATION  215 

"Most  Rev.  Father,  we  pray  only  that  the  negroes  of 
these  United  States  will  soon  understand  that  if  prej- 
udice is  to  remain  for  a  season  on  earth  there  is  one 
place  where  it  must  be  unknown  and  that  is  within  the 
sacred  circle  of  the  Catholic  Church.  We  hope  they 
will  soon  learn  that  the  solemn  dogma  of  the  Catholic 
Church  is  the  equality  of  all  men  before  God,  and  they 
should  know  the  whole  history  of  the  Catholic  Church 
has  been  a  ceaseless  protest  against  slavery.  Even  today 
the  voice  of  Leo  goes  forth  from  the  Vatican  hoping 
and  praying  that  the  last  blow  to  human  slavery  be 
dealt  out  by  Christians  amid  the  wilds  of  Africa. 

"The  question  is  often  asked,  is  the  negro  susceptible 
of  education?  Yes,  answer  the  statistics.  In  the  South- 
ern States,  in  1865,  among  one  thousand  negroes,  you 
could  find  one  that  knew  the  alphabet,  whilst  today, 
more  than  twenty  per  cent  of  all  over  ten  years  old  can 
read  and  write.  This  proportion  is  so  much  the  more 
to  be  remarked  as  there  are  many  illiterate  whites  in 
those  States. 

"More  might  be  said  on  this  question,  but  suffice  it  to 
say  that  we,  the  Negro  Catholics  of  Chicago,  will  show 
good  examples  of  sobriety  and  charity  to  all  men,  for 
no  sermon  is  as  powerful  as  the  unspoken  sermon  of 
good  example  preached  by  a  model,  Christian  man. 

"In  conclusion,  dear  Archbishop,  we  turn  to  you,  and 
address  ourselves  by  wishing  you  to  have  a  long  life, 
and  many  years  of  uninterrupted  happiness." 

Mr.  J.  P.  Beretta  next  read  the  address,  in  Italian, 
presented  by  the  Italian  citizens  of  Chicago.  He  was 
followed  by  Mr.  P.  C.  Harbour,  who  spoke  in  the 
language  of  "la  belle  France."  Mr.  A.  C.  Hesing  made 
his  address  in  German,  which  was  of  more  than  usual 
significance.  Then  followed  addresses  in  Bohemian, 


216        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Polish  and  Irish.  Judge  Moran's  address  came  next 
and  he  was  followed  by  the  Catholic  Library  Associa- 
tion. The  closing  address  was  presented  by  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters. 

At  the  close  of  this  memorable  and  historic  meeting, 
Archbishop  Feehan  arose,  and  coming  to  the  front  of 
the  platform,  delivered  the  following  beautiful  address, 
giving  full  expression  to  the  gratitude  of  his  heart  for 
all  the  manifestations  of  love  shown  him  during  the 
Jubilee  celebration: 

"Would  that  I  could  invoke  some  spirit  of  eloquence 
that  I  might  express  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  this 
hour.  This  splendid  assembly  suggests  a  great  lesson 
as  well  as  an  inspiration. 

"You  are  come  together  from  a  high  motive,  and  also 
from  a  kindly  one.  You  come  to  give  public  expres- 
sion to  your  Catholic  faith,  to  declare  your  loyalty  to  its 
Supreme  Pastor,  the  Vicar  of  Christ;  and  then,  in  the 
goodness  of  your  heart,  to  express  your  affectionate 
devotion  to  him  who  represents  in  your  midst  the  au- 
thority and  teaching  of  the  Church. 

"In  few,  if  in  any,  cities  of  the  world  could  the  scene 
that  is  witnessed  here  tonight  be  realized.  You  rep- 
resent many  races  and  many  tongues.  Very  many  of 
you  were  born  here.  Some  have  come  from  the  con- 
tinents and  the  isles  of  the  ocean  with  memories  and 
traditions  of  some  of  the  oldest  nations  and  civiliza- 
tions, but  you  are  all  united  by  one  great  principle,  that 
of  a  common  faith. 

"We  have  listened  to  the  tongues  of  the  newest  and 
the  oldest  of  the  nations;  first  the  language  of  our  own 
great  country,  where  human  liberty,  so  long  exiled  from 
earth,  has  at  length  found  a  home,  beneath  whose  flag 
men  driven  from  other  lands  find  generous  shelter. 


THE   EVENING   CELEBRATION  217 

"You  have  heard  it  spoken  by  one  of  her  distinguished 
sons,  whose  cradle  was  fanned  by  the  breath  of  free- 
dom, and  who  has  given  eloquent  expression  not  only 
to  his  own,  but  also  to  the  faith  and  loyalty  of  all  of  us. 

"You  have  heard  the  tongue  of  the  countrymen  of 
Sobieski  and  Pulaski,  the  gallant  though  unfortunate 
Poles;  and  of  Bohemia  and  Hungary,  who  have  fought 
and  endured  many  a  great  struggle  for  their  faith  and 
their  country. 

"You  have  heard  the  tongue  of  the  descendants  of 
Arminius,  of  that  sturdy  German  people  who,  in  our 
own  day,  have  had  the  courage  to  unite  and  to  defend 
successfully  one  of  the  highest  principles — that  of  liberty 
of  conscience — against  one  of  the  most  powerful  govern- 
ments of  modern  Europe. 

"You  have  heard  the  tongue  of  St.  Louis,  and  of  Bos- 
suet,  of  that  generous  nation,  France,  to  which  was  once 
applied,  and  to  which  may  still  be  largely  applied,  the 
glorious  words  'Gesta  Dei  per  Francos.' 

"We  have  listened  to  the  sweet  language  of  that  match- 
less clime  of  the  land  of  highest  art  and  genius,  fair 
Italy. 

"And  the  son  of  the  dark  race  came  to  express  among 
his  brothers  his  faith  and  loyalty.  You  received  him 
kindly  and  generously.  A  happy  omen  of  the  future 
of  his  race. 

"And  as  you  began  with  the  newest  tongue,  so  you 
ended  with  the  oldest,  the  ancient  language  of  the  Celt, 
that  which  expresses  a  civilization  far  older  than  any 
now  existing,  which  had  a  form  and  a  finish  before 
Cadmus  brought  letters  into  Greece,  before  Romulus 
built  the  walls  of  ancient  Rome,  which  was  the  tongue 
of  an  eminently  loyal  race,  which  for  seven  hundred 
years,  notwithstanding  the  direst  persecutions,  has  been 
faithful  to  God  and  to  its  country. 


218       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"But,  though  speaking  many  tongues  and  representing 
many  races,  there  is  one  common  language  which  you 
all  speak;  one  great  common  country  in  which  you  all 
claim  fellowship,  for  each  one  repeats  the  same  'Credo' 
— 'I  believe  in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church.'  But  you 
speak  tonight  for  the  Catholic  people  in  our  midst,  you 
come  to  express  what  each  one  of  them  would  say. 

"Fifty  years  ago  Chicago  had  two  hundred  Catholics, 
and  one  little  frame  church ;  tonight  you  represent  more 
than  a  half  million  of  Catholics  in  the  archdiocese  alone. 

"And  how  much  greater  will  it  be  in  the  future  that 
is  approaching.  That  future  will  be  when  the  tongues 
we  hear  tonight  shall  mingle  into  one,  when  the  children 
of  many  races  shall  form  one  great  people  united  by  a 
bond  stronger  than  death — that  of  their  Catholic  faith. 

"As  the  mountain  streams  uniting  form  at  length  the 
broad,  deep  river,  so  those  streams  of  population  com- 
ing from  many  sources  will  make  one  great  people: 
strong,  free,  intelligent,  Catholic.  And  as  humanity 
never  before  enjoyed  conditions  so  favorable  as  in  this 
great  Republic,  so  we  may  believe  that  its  highest,  best 
type  will  be  the  people  of  this  future,  and  we  may  well 
prophesy  that  the  historic  Church  never  had  within  its 
fold  a  nobler  race  than  they  will  be.  They  will  be 
always  found  among  the  best  and  most  devoted  of  our 
citizens.  And  this  not  merely  because  their  homes,  their 
families,  all  their  material  interests  are  here,  but  also, 
and  more  especially  because  their  religion  will  continue 
to  teach  them  that  loyalty  to  the  commonwealth  is  an 
imperative  and  conscientious  duty.  They  will  be  in  the 
future  as  their  brethren  have  been  in  the  past.  The 
fidelity  of  our  co-religionists  to  the  Republic  for  a  hun- 
dred years  is  more  than  sufficient  answer  to  whatever 
may  be  said  to  the  contrary. 


THE  EVENING    CELEBRATION 

"I  said  you  came  from  a  kindly  motive.  Twenty-five 
years  is  frequently  used  to  mark  a  term,  an  epoch,  in 
the  Church,  in  the  State,  in  public  and  in  private  life. 

"I  have  been  twenty-five  years  a  Bishop,  and  you 
wished  to  commemorate  this  fact.  The  years  have 
brought  their  labors.  Sometimes  also  their  anxieties. 
But  these  are  all  forgotten  in  an  hour  like  this. 

"Yesterday  I  heard  the  words  of  earnest  loyalty  from 
the  priests,  words  precious  beyond  price ;  today,  I  heard 
the  voices  that  are  sweetest  of  all,  the  voices  of  the  chil- 
dren; and  now  your  voices,  stronger  than  the  murmur 
of  a  mighty  sea,  come  to  tell  your  loyal  and  kindly 
feeling.  Amongst  any  rewards  of  this  life,  this  is  one 
of  the  highest;  and  from  my  whole  heart  I  thank  you 
again  and  again." 

The  entire  audience  then  arose,  and  with  bowed  heads 
received  the  Archbishop's  blessing,  and  the  magnificent 
evening  celebration  closed  with  the  hymn,  "Holy  God, 
we  praise  Thy  Name."  Thus  ended  the  public  demon- 
stration in  honor  of  the  Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan's 
Silver  Jubilee  in  the  Episcopacy,  on  the  30th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1890,  and  we  may  well  close  this  chapter  with  the 
words  of  the  editor  of  the  "Catholic  Review"  from 
Brooklyn,  who  wrote:  "No  Catholic  community  in  the 
peace  and  ardor  of  mediaeval  piety  ever  offered  to  a 
beloved  and  venerated  prelate  more  impressive  evidence 
of  their  zeal  for  faith,  or  of  their  devotion  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Church  .  .  .  The  Catholic  people  of  the 
great  inland  metropolis  have  set  to  their  brethren 
throughout  the  country  an  example  of  union,  brother- 
hood, ability,  taste  and  power,  that  ought  to  be  every- 
where studied  and  emulated.  .  .  In  the  Silver  Jubilee 
of  Archbishop  Feehan  there  was  neither  wealth  nor 
poverty,  neither  pretension  nor  lowliness,  neither  class 
nor  rivalry.  All  were  Catholics;  all  were  Americans." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH 

INCREASE  OF  CATHOLIC  POPULATION  IN  CHICAGO — INCREASE  IN 
NUMBER  OF  CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS  AND  CHARITABLE  ORGANIZA- 
TIONS— THE  "NEW  WORLD"  is  ESTABLISHED — LIST  OF  ORIG- 
INAL PROMOTERS — THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  DUNNE — 
MASTERFUL  ADDRESS  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP  ON  CATHOLIC  ED- 
UCATION— HIS  GENEROSITY — HIS  KINDNESS  TO  THE  NUNS— 
HIS  UNTIRING  EFFORTS  IN  BEHA<LF  OF  THE  OUTCAST  OF 
SOCIETY. 

THE  closing  of  the  great  Jubilee  ceremonies  marked 
the  end  of  the  most  remarkable  decade  of  Church  adminis- 
tration, both  in  the  spiritual  advancement  and  material 
prosperity,  which  had  ever  crowned  the  efforts  of  an 
executive  in  the  whole  history  of  the  Propaganda  in 
America.  The  same  triumphant  march  of  Catholicism 
which  signalized  the  first  ten  years  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
han's  administration,  continued  under  his  masterful 
generalship  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

The  Catholic  population  in  the  last  ten  years  of  the 
Archbishop's  life  and  labors  increased  at  a  rate  that 
would  astonish  the  most  sanguine  optimist  upon  the 
possibilities  of  human  progress.  Churches,  schools,  con- 
vents and  institutions  of  charity  continued  to  multiply 
and  seemingly  to  evolve  from  the  air  just  as  the  castles 
of  an  enchanted  world  spring  from  the  earth  at  the 
magic  touch  of  the  Genii's  wand.  During  the  twenty- 
two  years  of  Archbishop  Feehan's  administration,  the 
growth  of  Catholicism  in  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago 
assumed  phenomenal  proportions;  in  Catholic  popula- 
tion and  number  of  churches  the  increase  was  threefold. 

In  1880  there  were  but  fifty  churches  in  Chicago; 
there  were  only  a  few  parochial  schools  with  but  small 

220 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH    221 

attendance,  and  the  number  of  academies  and  colleges 
was  insignificant.  During  Archbishop  Feehan's  time 
were  erected, 

Churches:  St.  Adalbert's,  St.  Alphonsus',  St.  Augus- 
tine's, St.  Bernard's,  St.  Cecilia's,  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo's,  St.  Elizabeth's,  St.  George's,  the  Church  of 
the  Assumption,  St.  Gabriel's,  Holy  Angels',  St.  Jar- 
lath's,  St.  John  Cantius,'  St.  Malachy's,  St.  Mary  of 
Perpetual  Help,  St.  Martin's,  St.  Monica's  (colored), 
the  Church  of  the  Nativity,  St.  Pius',  St.  Thomas',  St. 
Vincent's,  St.  Patrick's  (Amboy),  St.  James'  (Bel- 
videre),  St.  Mary's  (Freeport),  St.  Joseph's  (Har- 
vard), St.  John  the  Baptist  (Johnsburg),  St.  Patrick's 
(Kankakee),  St.  Patrick's  (Lemont),  St.  Mary's  (Ore- 
gon), St.  Patrick's  (Rochelle),  St.  Mary's  (Rockford) 
and  St.  Rose's  (Wilmington). 

Educational  Institutions:  De  La  Salle  Institute,  St. 
Patrick's  Academy,  Loretto  Academy  (Joliet),  St. 
Francis  Academy  (Joliet),  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Car- 
mel  Academy,  Loretto  Convent  (Englewood),  Normal 
School  (Irving  Park),  St.  Agatha's  Academy  and  the 
Josephinum. 

Eleemosynary  Institutions:  St.  Elizabeth's  Hospital, 
large  addition  built  to  the  Mercy  Hospital,  St.  Joseph's 
Hospital  rebuilt,  Alexian  Brothers'  Hospital  rebuilt, 
Ephpheta  School,  Houses  of  Providence  on  the  North 
Side,  South  Side  and  West  Side,  Chicago  Industrial 
School  for  Girls,  St.  Mary's  Training  School  for  Boys 
at  Feehanville,  the  News  Boys'  Home,  and  the  Boys' 
Orphan  Asylum  at  Irving  Park. 

Since  1880  the  growth  of  the  city  of  Chicago  in  popu- 
lation, commercial  importance  and  material  wealth, 
stands  alone  in  the  world's  annals  as  a  marvel  of  human 
achievement;  yet  under  the  masterful  direction  of  the 
wise  Archbishop,  the  Catholic  Church  with  all  its  great 

16 


222       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

volume  of  diversified  interests,  material  changes,  and 
complexities  of  organization  has  wrought  proportion- 
ately still  greater  wonders  in  the  field  of  Christian 
civilization  and  spiritual  progress. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  great  stress  was  laid  re- 
peatedly by  Pope  Leo  XIII  on  the  value  of  an  able 
Catholic  Press.  "A  Catholic  paper,"  His  Holiness  said, 
"is  a  perpetual  mission."  Again  and  again,  in  speak- 
ing to  deputations  of  journalists,  the  Pope  commended 
the  support  of  a  strong  Catholic  press  to  the  general 
Catholic  body  and  even  laid  down  the  lines  upon  which 
such  a  press  ought  to  proceed  in  order  to  be  serviceable 
to  Catholic  principle. 

Feeling  the  need  of  a  stronger  organ  than  "The 
Home,"  which  was  the  only  Catholic  paper  for  the  Eng- 
lish-speaking people  of  the  archdiocese,  Archbishop 
Feehan  in  July,  1892,  called  a  meeting  of  all  the  pastors 
and  proposed  the  establishing  of  a  more  vigorous  weekly 
paper.  It  was  decided  to  incorporate  the  "Catholic 
Press  Company"  with  a  capital  of  $20,000.  The  Arch- 
bishop wishing  to  keep  the  control  in  his  own  hands 
subscribed  for  about  $11,000  of  the  stock,  while  the 
balance  was  subscribed  for  by  the  pastors  in  sums  rang- 
ing from  $100  to  $500  as  follows:* 

SHARES         PAID 

Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan,  D.  D.    (dec.),  N. 

State  St c550  $11,000 

Rt.  Rev.  E.  J.  Dunne,  D.  D.,  Dallas,  Texas. .     c5  100 
Rev.  A.  J.  McGavick,  D.  D.,  364  Oak- 
wood  Blvd c5  100 

Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  D.  D.,  953  W.  12th  St.. .  clO  200 
V.  Rev.  D.  M.  J.  Dowling,  V.  G.  (dec.),  2928 

Archer  Ave c50  1,000 

Rev.  T.  F.  Mangan  (dec.),  2928  Archer  Ave.    25  500 

Rev.  J.  C.  Madden,  Highland  Park c5  100 

Rev.  D.  A.  Tighe  (dec.).  264  Oakwood  Blvd.  c25  500 

Rev.  Wm.  Netstraeter,  Wilmette c25  500 

*  The   list    here   printed    is   dated    Sept.    1.    1892. 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH  223 

SHARES  PAID 

Rev.  T.  P.  Hodnett,  497  N.  Park  Ave c25  500 

Rev.  H.  McGuire,  2942  Wabash  Ave c50  1,000 

Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons,  V.  G.,  311  E.  Supe- 
rior St c25  500 

Rev.  W.  J.  McNamee,  Joliet clO  200 

Rev.  T.  P.  O'Gara,  Wilmington clO  200 

Rev.  J.  E.  McGavick,  264  Oakwood  Rlvd c5  100 

Rev.  D.  O'Brien   c4  80 

Rev.  A.  Evers,  274  Cornell  St c5  100 

Rev.  M.  O'Sullivan,  2928  Archer  Ave c5  100 

Rev.  D.  J.  Riordan,  4049  Wabash  Ave c25  500 

Rev.  M.  Bonfield,  1235  Douglas  Blvd c5  100 

Rev.  D.  Croke,  Freeport c2  40 

Rev.  Thomas  Quigley  (dec.) 2V2  50 

Rev.  P.  A.  McLaughlin,  769  Lunt  Ave 5  100 

Rev.  M.  J.  Sullivan c2  40 

Rev.  J.  P.  Aylward,  6530  Harvard  Ave c2  40 

Rev.  J.  A.  Hemlock c!3  260 

Rev.  J.  M.  Cartan,  839  E.  37th  St 25  500 

Rev.  P.  A.  Krier,  S,  J.,  49  W.  19th  St 5  100 

Rev.  H.  P.  Smyth,  Evanston clO  200 

Rev.  H.  Quinn,  Woodstock c4  80 

Rev.    P.  J.  Agnew  (dec.) c5  100 

Rev.  P.  D.  Gill,  859  Bissell  St c!5  300 

Rev.  P.  R.  Bulfm,  3528  Hermitage  Ave c5  100 

Rev.  J.  Molitor,  186  W.  Taylor  St 2  40 

Rev.  J.  L.  Moloney,  Fulton c8  160 

Rev.  M.  O'Brien,  94  Palmer  Ave c5  100 

Rev.  E.  A.  Kelly,  4515  5th  Ave 2  40 

Rev.  J.  F.  Callaghan,  345  Walnut  St 5  100 

Rev.  J.  F.  Barry,  311  E.  Superior  St 5  100 


Total 991^     $19,830 

After  a  long  discussion  the  name  "The  New  World" 
was  decided  on  for  the  weekly.  The  "Home"  was  pur- 
chased from  Dr.  McGovern,  owner  and  publisher,  for 
$5,000,  and  with  the  first  issue  of  "The  New  World," 
ceased  its  publication. 

For  nearly  thirty  years  this  paper,  which  owes  its 
existence  to  the  initiative  and  generosity  of  Archbishop 
Feehan,  has  defended  the  cause  of  Catholicity  in  the 
middle  West,  and  has  at  all  times  encouraged  every 
Catholic  enterprise. 


224       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Chronology  requires  here  the  insertion  of  the  consecra- 
tion of  the  Right  Rev.  Edward  Joseph  Dunne,  D.  D., 
which  took  place  in  Chicago  about  this  time. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Joseph  Dunne,  founder  and  pastor 
of  All  Saints'  parish,  was  born  in  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  April  23,  1848,  and  ordained  at  Baltimore, 
Md.,  June  29,  1871.  Having  labored  most  successfully 
in  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago  for  many  years  he  was 
selected  by  Rome  to  rule  the  Diocese  of  Dallas,  Texas. 
His  consecration  took  place  in  his  parish  church  of  All 
Saints,  Nov.  30,  1893.  The  consecrator  was  the  Most 
Rev.  Archbishop  Feehan,  assisted  by  the  Right  Rev. 
James  Ryan,  D.  D.,  of  Alton,  111.,  and  the  Right  Rev. 
John  N.  Foley,  D.  D.,  of  Detroit,  Mich.  The  sermon 
was  preached  by  the  Most  Rev.  Francis  Janssens,  D.  D., 
of  New  Orleans,  La. 

Bishop  Dunne  died  Aug.  5,  1910,  and  was  buried  in 
Calvary  Cemetery,  Chicago,  111. 

CATHOLIC  EDUCATION 

Follows  the  Archbishop's  address  to  the  clergy,  while 
in  collaboration  with  the  suffragan  bishops  on  educa- 
tional matters.  It  is  a  masterpiece  of  philosophical 
reasoning  and  establishes  the  highest  standard  by  which 
Catholic  parents  should  be  governed  in  that  paramount 
duty  which  they  owe  to  their  children. 
To  the  Clergy  and  Catholic  people  of  the  Ecclesiastical 

Province  of  Chicago: 

"Very  Rev.  and  Rev.  Dear  Fathers ;  Beloved  Brethren 
of  the  Laity: 

"At  a  recent  meeting,  we,  the  Archbishop  and  Bishops 
of  the  Ecclesiastical  Province  of  Chicago,  considered  it 
to  be  our  duty  to  address  you  on  the  subject  of  educa- 
tion. 

"In  zeal  for  education  and  in  faith  in  its  power  to  trans- 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  EDWARD  JOSEPH  DUNNE,  D.  D. 

Consecrated   in   Chicago   by   Archbishop   Feehan 

Nov.    30,    1893 
Died  Aug.  5,  1910 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH    225 

form  the  thoughts  and  habits  of  individuals  and  peo- 
ples, we  yield  to  none;  and  it  is  because  we  recognize 
what  a  mighty  and  far-reaching  influence  education  is, 
that  we  are  solicitous  to  provide  for  those  of  whose  souls 
we  shall  have  to  render  an  account  at  the  Tribunal  of 
the  All-Just  and  All- Wise  God,  the  kind  of  training 
and  discipline  which  true  religion,  pure  morality  and 
a  right  view  of  human  life  demand. 

"Man's  origin  and  destiny  are  divine;  he  is  godlike, 
for  he  is  a  child  of  God;  and  it  is  only  in  the  light  of 
this  primal  and  radical  truth  that  he  sees  rightly,  thinks 
truly  and  aspires  nobly. 

"Whenever  this  light  dawns  man  perceives  that  he  is 
a  religious  being ;  for  religion  is  a  deep-rooted  faith  that 
we  exist  in  God  and  through  God,  and  that  without 
God  we  should  at  once  cease  to  be.  It  is  a  living  sense 
of  our  utter  dependence  on  Him  for  every  thought  and 
movement  of  our  life,  and  for  the  existence  of  all  other 
things.  It  is  a  love  for  Him,  not  as  we  love  ourselves, 
but  as  the  absolutely  Good  and  True  One,  Whose 
perfection  infinitely  exceeds  our  power  to  conceive  or 
to  love.  It  is  therefore  not  an  accidental  something,  but 
the  very  essence  of  all  our  believing  and  hoping,  of  all 
striving  and  doing. 

"The  consciousness  of  God's  presence  in  the  world 
makes  us  men;  fills  us  with  thoughts  which  wander 
through  eternity,  with  longings  which  nothing  but  the 
Infinite  Best  can  satisfy;  it  gives  strength  and 
courage,  it  awakens  the  sense  of  duty  and  brings  peace 
and  blessedness. 

"Whoever  takes  this  view  of  man's  life — and  how  is 
it  possible  to  take  any  other? — instinctively  feels  that 
the  attempt  to  exclude  the  influence  of  religion  from  the 
school  is  irrational  and  unholy,  and  whoever  under- 


226       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

stands  that  this  is  so,  must  go  still  further  and  admit 
that  Catholics  are  consistent  when  they  refuse  to  accept 
for  themselves  and  their  children  a  purely  secular  sys- 
tem. 

"In  our  country,  those  who  believe  that  education  is 
essentially  religious  seem  at  present  to  be  a  minority; 
but  we  are  persuaded  that  all  Christians  who  have  seri- 
ously meditated  on  the  subject  know  that  we  and  those 
who  in  this  agree  with  us,  are  right.  The  arguments  of 
our  opponents  are  arguments  of  expediency;  but  when 
there  is  question  of  the  highest  human  interests,  what  is 
true  and  right  is  also  the  most  expedient. 

"Institutions  are  for  man,  and  those  which  are  most 
favorable  to  the  development  of  the  highest  type  of  man 
are  the  best.  To  content  one's  self  with  an  educational 
system  of  which  the  tendency  is  to  produce  an  inferior 
sort  of  men  (and  mere  materialists,  secularists,  indif- 
ferentists  must  always  be  inferior),  because  there  are 
political  and  economical  reasons  for  not  establishing  a 
better  system,  is  to  be  neither  a  statesman  nor  a  philos- 
opher. It  is  not  right  that  we  Catholics  should  have 
to  contribute  to  the  support  of  both  the  public  and  the 
parochial  school;  for  the  present,  however,  there  seems 
to  be  no  escape  from  the  double  burden,  for  the  law  taxes 
us  for  the  maintenance  of  the  secular  schools,  and  reason 
and  conscience  compel  us  to  maintain  our  own  religious 
schools. 

"While  we  are  conscious  of  the  wrong  we  are  thus  made 
to  suffer,  we  feel  that  it  is  our  own  business  not  to  seek 
excuses  for  not  complying  with  the  command  of  duty, 
but  to  harken  to  the  voice  of  conscience  and  to  do  what 
we  know  we  ought  to  do.  To  prefer  life  to  honor,  is 
justly  held  to  be  base,  and  where  there  is  question  of 
fidelity  to  truth  and  principle,  financial  and  economical 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH    227 

considerations  are  out  of  place.  To  what  nobler  or 
holier  end  can  we  devote  part  of  our  worldly  possessions 
than  to  the  work  of  forming  enlightened,  reverent  and 
faithful  Christian  men  and  women?  In  doing  this  we 
labor  most  effectively  for  the  good  of  the  State  as  well 
as  for  that  of  the  Church,  and  little  by  little  this  will 
come  to  be  recognized  by  all  fair  minded  men. 

"Experience  and  reflection  will  teach  them  that  we  are 
all  the  more  the  true  lovers  of  our  country  because  we 
prefer  truth  to  current  opinion,  and  have  the  courage  to 
be  right  when  to  be  so  is  to  be  unpopular. 

"Institutions  are  preserved  by  the  forces  from  which 
they  originate,  and  since  the  Christian  religion  has  been 
and  is  the  chief  source  of  the  vitality  and  strength  of 
Christian  civilization,  they  who  do  most  to  make  faith 
in  the  life  and  teachings  of  Christ  prevail,  are  our  best 
helpers  in  whatever  concerns  honor,  justice,  prosperity 
and  temperance,  which  are  the  virtues  that  make  nations 
strong  and  free. 

"The  world,  it  has  been  said,  is  governed  from  the 
nursery;  and  certainly  the  worth  in  influence  of  a  Chris- 
tian home  are  inestimable.  The  man  is  formed  at  his 
mother's  knee;  but  she,  if  she  be  wise  and  noble,  will 
demand  that  the  school  assist  her  in  the  godlike  work; 
for  if  the  teacher's  attitude  towards  religion  and  moral- 
ity neutralize  her  words  and  example,  confusion  will 
arise  in  the  soul  of  the  child,  and  his  view  of  the  world 
of  truth  and  goodness  will  be  darkened. 

"It  is  conceded  on  all  sides  that  the  Catholic  Church 
has  in  other  centuries  rendered  valuable  services  to  man- 
kind. By  her  the  soul  of  man  was  redeemed  from  State 
control  and  the  principle  of  the  supremacy  of  conscience 
was  established ;  by  her  the  barbarians  were  turned  from 
their  aimless  and  unprogressive  life  into  ways  of  light 


228       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

and  gentleness ;  by  her  the  traditions  and  writings  of  the 
classical  ages  were  kept  living;  by  her  Europe  was  saved 
from  the  blight  of  Mahommedanism ;  by  her  faith,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  her  devoted  children,  Columbus 
was  guided  to  the  New  World.  But  the  heroic  and 
saintly  men  and  women  who  were  the  leaders  in  all  these 
achievements  and  victories  had  but  dim  visions  of  the 
far-reaching  importance  of  the  work  they  were  doing; 
they  built  better  than  they  knew;  they  did  the  thing 
which  was  given  them  to  do,  and  God  turned  their  deeds 
into  world-blessings. 

"So  shall  it  be  with  what  we  Catholics  are  now  doing 
in  the  United  States.  In  our  practical  acceptance  of 
the  principle  that  education  is  essentially  religious,  that 
without  it,  however  much  the  mind  and  body  may  be 
cultivated,  man  cannot  rightly  be  educated,  we  take  the 
true  and  deep  view  of  this  all-important  subject,  and 
the  influence  of  our  schools  will  come  to  be  a  potent 
moral  and  intellectual  influence  in  America. 

"We  urge  you,  therefore,  dear  brethren,  to  cherish  the 
cause  of  Christian  education  as  the  cause  of  God  and 
our  country.  In  building,  maintaining  and  perfecting 
our  Catholic  schools  we  are  doing  the  most  beneficent 
work  American  citizens  can  do;  a  work  which,  like  true 
piety,  is  useful  both  for  the  life  that  now  is  and  for  that 
which  is  to  come." 

Archbishop  Feehan  had  a  gratifying  degree  of  suc- 
cess in  the  building  of  parochial  schools.  There  was 
little  stir  made;  there  was  no  beating  of  drums  or 
no  clashing  of  cymbals,  but  the  schools  were  in  opera- 
tion before  the  public  had  heard  of  them.  The  im- 
mense resources  of  the  diocese,  concentrated  in  the 
hands  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  were  for  use  rather  than 
exhibition  and  hence  it  is  that  one  can  say,  "if  ever 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH    229 

a  prelate  forsook  all  other  interests  for  those  of  his 
diocese,  that  prelate  was  Patrick  A.  Feehan." 

The  Catholic  school  life  in  the  archdiocese  made  great 
strides  during  his  episcopate.  He  was  always  delighted 
when  a  new  school  was  opened  and  frequently  said, 
"Fill  the  schools  now,  and  the  churches  will  be  filled 
in  the  future."  Whenever  possible  he  endeavored  to 
have  the  church  and  school  begin  their  careers  together, 
and  hence  as  a  beginning  he  favored  the  "combination 
building"  (church  and  school).  He  was,  even  at  the 
expense  of  energy,  very  gracious  in  attending  the  clos- 
ing exercises  of  the  schools  and  higher  institutions  of 
learning.  He  never  complained  of  the  heat  or  the  long 
programs,  saying,  "why  should  not  we  the  patrons  of 
education  surfer  a  bit  when  we  can  be  of  such  pleasure 
to  the  graduates  on  the  greatest  day  in  their  lives.  Then 
think  how  much  our  presence  means  to  the  hard  worked 
teachers." 

After  Confirmation  he  would  always  call  upon  the 
religious  who  were  working  in  the  parish.  He  would 
compliment  them  and  thank  them  for  the  excellent  edu- 
cation they  were  affording  the  youth.  On  one  occasion 
he  remarked  after  such  a  visit:  "The  non-Catholics  have 
no  conception  of  the  great  value  of  our  religious  com- 
munities and  I  often  wonder  if  even  our  Catholics  fully 
appreciate  the  heroic  work  that  these  men  and  women 
do.  Slaves  to  the  desk  or  sick-bed,  and  the  majority 
of  our  own  people  take  it  as  a  matter  of  course !  Youth, 
refinement,  good  education  and  talent  all  pressed  in 
humility  under  the  religious  habit,  that  others  may  be 
blessed  and  benefitted!  In  a  certain  sense  it  is  a  con- 
stant miracle  of  grace  and  an  evidence  of  the  vitality 
and  power  of  the  sacraments.  Take  away  the  Taber- 
nacle and  our  religious  communities  would  disappear. 


230       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Oh,  I  can  have  no  patience  with  priest  or  layman  who 
is  uncivil  or  discourteous  to  the  nuns.  Such  show  an 
utter  disregard  for  the  finer  things  of  life.  There  is  a 
spiritual  atmosphere  in  the  convent  that  you  find  no 
place  else."  Then  turning  to  the  two  young  priests  who 
were  with  him  in  the  carriage,  he  said  solemnly:  "Fa- 
thers, not  in  my  day,  but  perhaps  in  yours,  bold,  bad 
men  may  attack  these  handmaidens  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Then  it  will  be  your  duty  to  shield  and  protect  them 
even  with  your  life.  Let  me  tell  you  a  story,"  he  con- 
tinued. 

"When  I  was  a  young  priest  in  St.  Louis,  I  was 
seated  one  day  in  an  omnibus  near  the  driver.  A  big 
Irishman,  known  as  'Red  Simon,'  was  also  there  and  as 
I  passed  him  he  lifted  his  hat  and  saluted  me.  I  paid  no 
further  attention  to  him  until  two  nuns  also  entered  the 
vehicle.  No  sooner  were  they  seated  than  a  violent  dis- 
turbance occurred.  I  could  recognize  'Red  Simon'  in 
action  and  with  every  punch  he  gave  his  victim  on  the 
floor  I  could  hear  him  say,  'You  will  insult  those  women 
of  God,  will  you.'  After  some  mauling,  'Red  Simon' 
picked  up  the  disturber  and  flung  him  to  the  street  say- 
ing, 'There's  where  the  likes  of  you  belong,'  and  then 
turning  to  the  driver  he  said,  'Go  on.'  After  finding 
his  hat  he  came  to  me  and  begged  my  pardon  for  the 
disturbance  adding,  'I  could  not  help  it,  Father;  he  in- 
sulted those  women  of  God  and  I  would  not  insult  you 
by  repeating  what  he  said.'  Now  Fathers,"  continued 
the  Archbishop,  "I  cannot  entirely  approve  of  such  mus- 
cular Christianity,  but  really  I  somewhat  enjoyed  the 
evidence  of  faith  and  respect  for  the  nuns,  and  I  also 
felt  that  the  ruffian  had  been  properly  treated.  Some 
people  can  understand  only  physical  arguments." 

But  a  more  perplexing  problem  than  the  marvelous 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH    231 

concrete  evidence  displayed  in  the  hosts  of  faithful 
children  of  the  Church  who  sought  shelter  under  the  ban- 
ner of  the  good  Archbishop,  and  the  massive  piles  of 
architectural  skill  and  beauty  which  are  now  the  lasting 
monuments  to  his  charity  and  zeal,  is  the  apparently 
almost  impenetrable  mystery  of  how  a  man  of  the  Arch- 
bishop's retiring  disposition,  abhorrence  of  notoriety 
and  display,  could  have  accomplished  so  much  and  in 
so  imperceptible  a  manner  as  scarcely  to  attract  the  at- 
tention of  the  world  until  after  his  death.  As  we  shall 
see,  nearly  all  the  great  engines  of  publication  seemed 
at  that  time  to  have  discovered  with  one  accord,  and 
proclaimed  to  the  whole  civilized  globe,  the  magnificent 
character  of  the  man,  the  greatness  of  his  life's  work, 
and  the  irreparable  loss  sustained  by  his  death.  The 
loss  was  felt  by  every  element  of  which  civilized  society 
is  composed,  regardless  of  creed,  social  station,  or  any 
of  the  other  barriers  which  too  often  separate  men  in  the 
fierce  struggle  for  existence. 

Those,  however,  of  the  clergy  and  laity  who  were  in 
a  greater  or  lesser  degree  acquainted  with  the  great  Prel- 
ate during  his  life-time,  and  who  were  familiar  with  his 
remarkable  characteristics  of  mind,  his  superb  executive 
talent,  his  inexhaustible  energy  and  unflagging  devotion 
to  duty,  his  penetrating  interest  in  the  most  trifling  de- 
tails of  his  responsible  office  as  well  as  into  those  mo- 
mentous questions  which  exacted  the  full  forces  of  his 
analytical  and  vigorous  intellect — those,  indeed,  who 
knew  the  man  in  the  simplicity  and  holiness  and  child- 
like piety  of  his  private  life,  will  see  no  mystery,  but 
rather  the  royal  insignia  of  Divine  Favor  in  the  abund- 
ance of  golden  fruits  with  which  his  pilgrimage  through 
the  orchard  of  his  Master  has  been  rewarded. 

There  was  no  phase  of  human  life  too  simple  or  too 


232        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

complex  for  the  great  Prelate  to  inquire  into  and  to 
investigate,  in  order  that  he  might  be  better  qualified  to 
combat  the  numerous  evils  of  life  in  the  modern  Baby- 
Ions  of  the  world. 

The  good  Priest  knew  that  in  the  great  sinks  of  in- 
iquity, the  over  populated  cities,  thousands  of  young 
girls  are  annually  sacrificed  to  the  monster  Moloch  of 
the  lascivious,  lecherous,  and  godless  element  of  our 
social  system.  Houses  to  reclaim  erring  girls  he,  there- 
fore, had  established  and  generously  assisted;  but  to 
stem  the  tide  of  the  ever  increasing  flow  of  young  women 
(many  of  very  tender  age),  from  the  paths  of  piety, 
sobriety,  and  virtue  into  those  of  irreligion,  intemper- 
ance and  moral  degradation,  presented  to  him  a 
problem  so  discouraging,  because  of  the  almost 
insurmountable  difficulties  inherent  in  the  social 
system,  that  his  great  heart,  while  still  throbbing 
with  sympathy  and  hope,  was  borne  down  with 
pain  and  sorrow.  He  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  dis- 
cover the  cause  of  such  widespread  and  wanton  ruin  of 
young  girls,  and  wherever  an  avenue  of  investigation 
was  open  to  him,  he  entered  it  with  energy  and  zeal, 
seeking  information  from  the  highest  sources  as  well  as 
from  the  humblest.  For  this  purpose  he  would  often 
take  a  twilight  stroll  from  his  residence  and  join  the 
policeman  on  the  beat,  and  from  him  and  others  he 
would  endeavor  to  discover  the  conditions  of  life,  the 
environments  or  causes,  whatever  they  may  have  been, 
which  were  responsible  for  the  degradation  and  de- 
pravity of  so  many  young  people. 

The  dominant,  unifying  principle  of  the  life  of  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  was  his  moral  elevation  of  character.  He 
was  raised  as  high  above  the  common  herd  as  Moses  on 
the  summit  of  Sinai,  communing  with  the  God  of  eternal 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  CHURCH    233 

truth  and  holiness,  was  elevated  over  the  Israelites  who 
were  prostrate  before  the  golden  calf  in  the  plains  be- 
neath. By  a  natural  affinity  he  was  associated  during 
the  entire  length  of  his  career  with  men  of  powerful 
intellect  and  lofty  ideals.  Every  impulse  of  his  spirit 
was  lofty,  far-reaching,  masterful  and  free  from  subjec- 
tion to  accidental  circumstances  of  time  and  place.  Still, 
his  love  of  academic  seclusion  and  dislike  of  notoriety, 
which  to  many  seemed  rooted  in  his  character,  would 
disappear  before  the  needs  of  a  situation  as  described 
above.  Then  the  vigor,  enthusiasm,  the  splendid  phys- 
ical energy  and  the  boundless  resources  latent  in  his 
powerful  personality  came  into  play  and  remained  in 
evidence  until  he  had  brought  order  out  of  chaos. 

The  generosity  of  the  Archbishop  was  well  known 
and  he  was  often  imposed  upon.  He  was  especially 
generous  and  big  hearted  in  his  dealings  with  those  who 
worked  for  him  and  those  in  distress.  About  the  only 
papers  found  after  his  death,  were  promises  of  others 
to  pay,  which  of  course,  were  never  fulfilled.  He  was 
well  known  to  the  men  who  used  to  help  people  with 
their  baggage  at  the  depots,  for  he  was  generous  in  his 
"tips."  He  acted  in  the  same  manner  with  the  servants 
at  hotels  and  often  said,  "A  few  cents  extra  means  so 
little  to  us,  whilst  it  makes  them  happy  and  the  next 
priest  will  receive  better  attention."  When  at  table  in 
a  hotel  he  always  tipped  the  waiter  at  the  beginning  of 
the  meals.  When  asked  why  he  reversed  the  usual 
order,  he  answered:  "Well,  they  know  they  have  it,  and 
if  satisfied  will  serve  me  with  greater  zest  than  if  in 
doubt."  Then  with  a  smile  he  would  add,  "It  is  entirely 
proper  to  keep  Novices  on  probation,  but  not  waiters." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
A  FRIEND  OF  CATHOLIC  SOCIETIES 

WHY  CERTAIN  SOCIETIES  WERE  CONDEMNED  BY  ROME — THE 
ARCHBISHOP  GRASPS  THE  SITUATION — HE  ANTICIPATES  THE 
ENCYCLICAL  LETTER  OF  POPE  LEO  XIII  —  THE  CATHOLIC 
KNIGHTS  OF  AMERICA — HIS  LOVE  FOR  ALL  CATHOLIC  SOCIETIES 
— HE  BECOMES  THEIR  CHAMPION — HIS  DEFENSE  OF  THE  A. 
O.  H. — THE  TESTIMONY  OF  ARCHBISHOP  IRELAND — THE  PRO- 
MOTOR  OF  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETIES — HIS  SPEECH  AT  THE 
TEMPERANCE  CONGRESS  IN  CHICAGO — SKETCH  OF  THE  ORIGIN 
OF  THE  CATHOLIC  ORDER  OF  FORESTERS. 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN'S  broad  knowledge  of  the  wants 
and  needs  of  the  Catholic  laity,  both  in  a  material  and 
spiritual  sense,  and  his  substantial  and  practical  assist- 
ance and  encouragement  to  every  enterprise  consonant 
with  the  spirit  of  the  Church,  and  tending  to  assemble 
Catholics  in  fraternal  intercourse  and  relation,  sig- 
nalized his  long  ministration  as  one  of  the  grandest  suc- 
cesses that  has  ever  crowned  the  life's  efforts  of  any 
great  and  illustrious  churchman. 

The  pernicious  effects  of  secret  societies  in  Europe 
and  the  overt  and  bold  hostility  of  many  of  them  to  the 
Vatican  and  the  Catholic  religion  in  general,  need  only 
be  mentioned  here  cursorily  as  the  subject  is  so  familiar 
to  the  great  mass  of  the  reading  world.  However,  a 
few  words  on  this  subject  cannot  but  tend  to  bring  out 
in  bold  relief  the  fine  discrimination  and  pre-eminent 
judgment  of  Archbishop  Feehan  in  all  his  dealings  with 
questions  of  more  than  ordinary  importance.  It  was  the 
bitter  enmity  of  certain  societies  in  Europe  towards  the 
Holy  Father  and  toward  the  Catholic  Church,  which 
first  caused  their  condemnation  throughout  the  Catholic 
world.  The  terrible  part  enacted  by  some  secret  socie- 

234 


A   FRIEND    OF    CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       235 

ties  during  the  French  Revolution,  which  inspired  many 
of  the  almost  unprecedented  crimes  against  religion 
and  humanity,  is  familiar  to  every  reader  of  history. 
And  who  can  have  forgotten  the  year  1884,  when  the 
Freemasons  of  France,  Belgium  and  Italy  united  to 
celebrate  in  Rome  the  Apotheosis  of  Voltaire?  It  was 
Antichrist  triumphing  over  the  Papacy  in  the  very  city 
of  the  Popes.  A  statue  had  been  erected  in  1889  in  the 
City  of  Rome  to  Giordano  Bruno,  the  apostate  monk 
and  the  apostle  of  atheism  in  Italy;  in  fact,  all  during 
the  nineteenth  century  Freemasonry,  under  the  name 
of  Illuminism  and  various  other  disguises,  had  been 
plotting  and  working  indefatigably  against  the  interests 
of  the  Church. 

In  more  recent  times  these  societies,  in  Europe  as 
well  as  in  America,  had  thrown  off  their  satellites  to 
revolve  around  them  like  the  moons  of  Jupiter  swing 
around  his  giant  mass.  All  over  the  world  these  non- 
sectarian  orders  had  multiplied  by  leaps  and  bounds. 
Some  of  them,  it  is  true,  were  not  explicitly  condemned 
— at  least  in  America — but  the  vicious  tendencies  of  the 
older  European  orders  very  naturally  inclined  the  Vati- 
can to  look  with  grave  suspicion  upon  the  inroad  which 
secret  societies  in  general  were  making  into  the  ranks 
of  the  Catholic  laity. 

The  more  recently  instituted  non-sectarian  societies 
which  were  not  condemned,  recruited  heavily  from  the 
ranks  of  Catholic  men,  and  their  benevolent  features 
were,  life-insurance,  care  for  the  sick  and  unfortunate, 
and  social  recreation.  The  great  masses  of  men  living 
under  the  high  tension  of  a  civilization,  which  to  observ- 
ing minds  marks  another  sociological  epoch  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  world,  unless  guided  by  a  higher  spiritual 
power  into  channels  of  approved  duty,  will  surely  seek 


236        THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

protection  from  temporal  ills  to  better  their  condition 
by  the  most  direct  methods  and  along  the  lines  of  least 
resistance. 

Archbishop  Feehan  was  not  slow  to  grasp  this  salient 
truth.  When  from  his  own  observation  and  indefati- 
gable habit  of  investigation  he  saw  the  practical  benefits 
of  many  of  the  features  embodied  in  the  organizations 
of  the  non-sectarian  orders,  he  determined  to  encourage 
the  organization  of  societies  among  the  Catholic  people 
which  would  embody  all  the  good  features  of  the  non- 
sectarian  orders,  whilst  preserving  the  spirit  of  the 
Church  and  insuring  a  steadfast  fealty  to  the  ancient 
faith.  The  Archbishop  had  worked  with  this  end  in 
view  years  before  the  great  Pope  Leo  XIII  sent  his 
Encyclical  Letter  "Longinque  Oceani,"  of  January  6, 
1895,  to  the  Catholics  of  the  United  States.  In  it  His 
Holiness  says  among  other  things:  "Now,  with  regard 
to  entering  societies,  extreme  care  should  be  taken  not 
to  be  ensnared  by  error.  And  we  wish  to  be  understood 
as  referring  in  a  special  manner  to  the  working  classes, 
who  assuredly  have  a  right  to  unite  in  associations  for 
the  promotion  of  their  interests ;  a  right,  acknowledged 
by  the  Church  and  unopposed  by  nature.  But  it  is  very 
important  to  take  heed  with  whom  they  are  to  associate, 
lest  while  seeking  aid  for  the  improvement  of  their  con- 
dition they  may  be  imperilling  far  weightier  interests.  .  . 
Catholics  ought  to  prefer  to  associate  with  Catholics, 
a  course  which  will  be  very  conducive  to  the  safeguard- 
ing of  their  faith." 

The  Order  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America  owes 
its  origin  to  Archbishop  Feehan  and  he  it  was  who  was 
its  first  spiritual  director.  Says  Mr.  Anthony  Matre 
in  the  Catholic  Encyclopedia  (Vol.  Ill,  p.  453) :  "  'The 
Catholic  Knights  of  America'  is  a  fraternal  life-insur- 


ance  company  chartered  under  the  laws  of  the  State 
of  Kentucky.  It  was  founded  in  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
by  James  J.  McLoughlin,  D.  N.  Burke,  John  Brod- 
erick,  and  John  McDonald.  The  first  meeting  was  held 
April  23,  1877,  at  Emmett  Hall,  Nashville,  with  James 
J.  McLoughlin  as  temporary  chairman.  At  the  second 
meeting,  May  1,  1877,  the  first  permanent  branch  was 
organized  with  J.  J.  McLoughlin,  president,  and  John 
McDonald,  secretary.  The  name  selected  for  the  new 
organization  was  the  'Order  of  United  Catholics,' 
which  was  subsequently  changed,  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  Bishop  P.  A.  Feehan,  of  Nashville,  to  'Catholic 
Knights  of  America.'  The  bishop  gave  his  cordial  ap- 
proval to  the  new  society,  and  accepted  the  office  of 
spiritual  director.  In  June,  1878,  plans  were  drawn  up 
for  the  establishment  of  a  supreme  council  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  branches  were  organized  in  Grafton,  West 
Virginia;  Louisville,  Kentucky;  New  Albany,  Indiana; 
and  Galion,  Ohio. 

"The  first  session  of  the  supreme  council  was  held  in 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  9,  1878.  Sixteen  branches 
were  represented;  a  supreme  constitution  was  adopted, 
the  Hon.  W.  C.  Smith  of  Louisville  was  elected  first 
Supreme  President,  and  Bishop  Feehan  was  chosen 
Supreme  Spiritual  Director.  .  .  Financially  the 
Catholic  Knights  of  America  is  today  one  of  the  strong- 
est organizations  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States.  It 
has  a  membership  of  20,000,  divided  among  560 
branches,  located  in  forty-two  states  of  the  Union." 

This  grand  organization  came  into  being  when  one 
day  a  few  Nashville  Catholics  asked  Bishop  Feehan's 
opinion  about  a  society  that  many  were  proposing  to 
organize  in  Nashville  and  other  cities  of  the  South,  and 
about  the  propriety  of  Catholics  undertaking  to  form  a 

17 


238       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

society  of  this  kind.  Bishop  Feehan  looked  over  the 
constitutions  and  by-laws  of  the  proposed  society  and 
said  without  hesitation:  "I  most  cordially  approve 
your  object.  You  have  the  material;  go  ahead,  and  I 
assure  you  that  I  will  give  you  all  my  support."  This 
encouragement,  like  seed  cast  into  fertile  ground,  took 
root ;  the  society  was  organized  and  grew  and  flourished 
until  today  it  is  one  of  the  most  successful  organiza- 
tions among  the  Catholic  laity  in  the  United  States. 

The  Hibernians  and  Catholic  Knights  both  worked 
under  his  guidance.  These  benevolent  organizations 
relieved  many  a  suffering  family  during  the  plagues  that 
visited  the  diocese  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  the  '70s.  They 
moreover  did  notable  work  in  promoting  Catholic  edu- 
cation and  charity,  providing  education  and  homes  for 
Catholic  orphans,  endowing  scholarships  in  Catholic  col- 
leges, providing  lectures  on  Catholic  doctrine,  endowing 
hospital  beds,  and  in  general,  performing  the  work  of 
the  apostolate  of  the  laity.  The  Archbishop,  having 
lived  and  labored  so  long  amongst  the  people  of  the 
United  States  and  knowing  so  well  their  tempera- 
ments, dispositions  and  environments,  as  well  as 
their  social  needs,  was  pre-eminently  the  prelate 
to  afford  them  all  the  advantages  of  collective  fra- 
ternal support.  He  also  was  the  man  to  guide  them, 
with  a  masterly  hand,  safely  away  from  the  rocks  and 
shoals,  which  threaten  with  destruction  those  frail  ves- 
sels, laden  down  with  cargoes  of  misguided  fellowmen, 
who  trust  their  destinies  to  human  means  alone. 

Not  only  was  Archbishop  Feehan  an  earnest  and 
zealous  friend  of  all  Catholic  societies,  but  he  was  more 
than  that — he  was  their  fearless  champion  on  all  occa- 
sions. By  reason  of  some  misconception,  as  to  the  real 
character  and  genius  of  the  organization  of  the  Ancient 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       239 

Order  of  Hibernians,  the  probability  that  the  Order 
would  be  condemned  by  the  Council  of  Baltimore  was 
viewed  with  great  alarm  by  all  the  friends  of  the  order 
in  the  United  States,  but  especially  so  by  Archbishop 
Feehan.  Consequently,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
order  in  the  Council  and  delivered  an  address  at  once 
so  powerful,  convincing  and  intensely  earnest,  that  a 
decided  effect  was  produced  upon  the  Fathers  of  the 
Council,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  was 
secured  from  all  danger  of  condemnation.  It  has  been 
our  good  fortune  to  obtain  the  original  letter  of  Arch- 
bishop Ryan,  of  Philadelphia,  dated  February  27,  1904, 
concerning  this  subject  and  also  a  verbal  account  of 
Archbishop  Ireland.  Archbishop  Ryan  had  been  ap- 
proached on  this  question  and  answered: 

"Archbishop  Feehan  produced  a  decided  effect  on  the 
Fathers  of  the  Council  of  Baltimore  on  the  question  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians.  I  do  not  think  that 
the  order  would  have  been  condemned  even  without  that 
address,  but  he  secured  it  from  all  danger  of  condemna- 
tion. I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  him  so  intensely  in 
earnest." 

After  the  death  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  Archbishop 
Ireland  was  also  asked  one  day  concerning  this  speech 
made  by  Archbishop  Feehan  in  defense  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians  during  the  sessions  of  the  Third 
Plenary  Council,  and  here  is  what  was  said  by  His  Grace 
from  St.  Paul:  "By  your  question  you  bring  to  my  mind 
what  I  consider  one  of  the  most  interesting  moments 
of  the  sessions  and  let  me  add  it  recalls  one  of  the  best 
speeches  I  ever  listened  to.  I  do  not  know  whether  it 
was  my  natural  sympathy  for  Ireland  and  the  A.  O. 
H.  or  the  surprise  at  the  enthusiasm  and  eloquence  of 
the  usually  silent  man,  but  whatever  it  was,  that  speech 


240       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

I  remember  as  one  of  the  most  eloquent  that  I  have 
ever  heard  and  I  have  in  my  time  heard  unusual  speeches 
in  Italian,  French  and  English. 

"The  discussion  had  continued  for  some  time  in  regard 
to  the  condemnation  of  the  A.  O.  H.,  and  many  accusa- 
tions were  made  that  had  no  foundation,  and  also  many 
charges  were  made  by  those  who  did  not  understand 
the  constitution  of  the  A.  O.  H.  nor  the  Irish  character. 
The  chamber  was  alive  with  strong  emotions  and  the 
friends  of  the  A.  O.  H.  feared  that  some  condemnation 
might  be  passed.  Very  good  speeches  had  been  uttered 
in  favor  of  the  organization.  The  debate  appeared  to 
be  concluded  and  the  chairman  was  ready  to  put  the 
motion  when  a  rather  weak  voice  asked  for  the  atten- 
tion of  the  chairman.  Every  one  looked  to  ascertain 
who  the  speaker  was  as  that  voice  had  not  entered  into 
previous  debates.  Archbishop  Feehan  began  in  a 
smooth,  low  voice  and  took  up  one  by  one  the  objections 
made  to  the  A.  O.  H.  and  answered  each  one  in  a  con- 
cise but  striking  manner.  His  voice  increased  in  volume 
as  he  proceeded  and  his  stature  seemed  to  grow  with 
his  argument.  We  were  all  spell-bound,  for  we  never 
dreamed  that  he  possessed  such  power  of  explanation, 
refutation  and  sarcasm.  Near  the  conclusion  of  his 
plea,  he  turned  to  the  accusers  of  the  Irish  organization 
and  told  them  that  they  neither  understood  the  faith  nor 
the  loyalty  of  the  members  they  had  been  accusing, 
and  defied  them  to  prove  by  a  special  committee  of 
investigation  the  charges  preferred.  He  was  like  an 
enraged  lion  defending  its  offspring,  and  as  he  shook 
his  head  in  denunciation  his  flowing  locks  gave  truth 
to  the  comparison.  All  in  all  it  was  for  me  the  most 
eloquent  and  powerful  speech  that  I  have  ever  heard. 
Why,  I  can  remember  to  this  day  how  he  dissected  the 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       241 

accusations  and  how  he  analyzed  the  Celtic  character, 
and  what  an  accurate  knowledge  of  Irish  history  he  dis- 
played. 

"Well,  when  he  had  finished  there  was  silence,  and  we 
felt  there  would  be  no  condemnation  nor  further  discus- 
sion. The  chairman  waited  a  few  minutes  and  then 
said:  'If  there  is  no  objection,  this  question  will  be 
tabled,'  and  there  was  no  objection  to  the  suggestion. 
The  A.  O.  H.  can  always  be  grateful  to  Archbishop 
Feehan  for  his  noble  defense  of  them  and  their  organi- 
zation." 

Archbishop  Feehan  was  also  a  helper  and  promoter 
of  Temperance  Societies.  At  the  Catholic  Temperance 
Congress  in  Chicago,  the  Archbishop  opened  the  pro- 
ceedings with  the  following  address,  which  shows  his 
anxiety  for  the  cause  of  temperance: 

"I  find  a  very  great  pleasure  as  well  as  a  great  honor 
has  come  to  me  today  in  having  the  opportunity  of 
opening  the  Catholic  Temperance  Congress;  in  finding 
here  those  interested  in  this  great  work  of  temperance, 
coming  from  different  parts  of  our  country,  inspired 
by  one  great  motive  and  united  together  by  the  greatest 
bonds,  the  bond  of  common  faith.  To  me  it  is  a  sincere 
pleasure  to  welcome  to  the  city  the  members  of  the 
Catholic  Congress. 

"Our  city  at  present  is  the  center  of  many  great  activi- 
ties. The  great  Exposition  is  bringing  people  not  only 
from  this  great,  broad  land,  but  from  all  the  nations 
of  the  world.  There  are  represented  all  the  develop- 
ments of  human  genius  and  human  industry,  giving  us 
an  idea  of  the  condition  of  mankind  toward  the  close 
of  our  century.  Men  of  great  talent  and  great  admin- 
istrative ability  have  brought  together  here  the  products 
of  the  land  and  of  the  sea,  and  they  have  brought  the 


242       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

lightning  down  from  heaven  and  have  given  specimens 
of  man's  highest  and  best  genius  and  industry. 

"And  yet,  after  all  that  can  be  said  in  praise  of  this 
wonderful  work  is  uttered,  we  will  acknowledge  that 
this,  after  all,  is  not  the  highest  achievement  of  humanity 
— that  there  is  something  better,  something  greater,  and 
that  above  all  this  great  material  prosperity  and  ad- 
vancement is  the  moral  well-being  of  man.  Whatever 
tends  to  make  human  life  better,  higher,  holier,  happier 
— this  is  more  to  earnest,  thinking  men  than  the  mere 
material  progress  that  we  witness.  And  when  earnest 
men  and  women  come  together  from  various  points  of 
this  vast  domain,  it  is  an  indication  that  these  higher 
ideas  of  human  good  and  real  human  progress  prevail 
among  men. 

"You  come  together  to  hold  a  congress  by  which  you 
hope  to  benefit  yourselves  and  your  fellow  men;  to 
advance  as  far  as  you  can,  each  one  in  his  own  sphere 
and  place,  the  higher,  better,  greater  interests  of  man- 
kind. You  come  to  meet,  as  far  as  is  possible  for  you, 
one  of  the  greatest  evils  of  the  world — the  evil  of  in- 
temperance. We  all  know  there  are  in  the  world  very 
many  evils  that  always  have  been  and  always  will  be; 
and  we  are  not  dreamers  nor  do  we  fancy  that  we  will 
realize  any  "Utopia"  or  that  we  can  remove  and  put 
an  end  at  once  and  in  our  generation  to  all  the  evils 
of  the  world,  but  we  believe  that  we  can  soften,  lessen, 
ameliorate  some  of  them  at  least. 

"Some  men  in  our  time,  even  men  recognized  as  lead- 
ers of  human  thought  and  distinguished  in  the  world — 
men  who  are  great  philosophers,  orators,  great  poets — 
look  out  upon  the  world  where  evil  exists  in  countless 
shapes,  and  disappointed  many  a  time  in  their  ideas  of 
the  progress  of  mankind,  or  the  amelioration  of  the  hard 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       243 

conditions  of  mankind,  become  pessimists,  take  an  un- 
favorable and  depressing  view  of  mankind  and  of  the 
world.  Their  ideas  are  not  realized.  The  world  goes 
on.  Its  faults  do  not  disappear.  They  find — those  men 
of  whom  I  speak — no  real  remedies,  I  may  say,  even 
no  lessening  of  the  evils  touching  humanity.  And  if  we 
were  only  to  listen  to  those  men  our  sanctuary  would 
disappear  in  gloom.  One  of  the  greatest  poets  of  the 
day  acknowledges  this,  and  sees  in  his  old  age  nothing 
better  than  this,  and  the  refrain  of  one  of  his  songs  is: 
'Chaos  and  cosmos!  Who  can  tell  the  end  of  it?' 

"But  we  do  not  accept  this  theory  of  pessimism  in 
view  of  the  evils  that  afflict  the  world,  for  we  know  that 
'the  light  that  enlighteneth  every  man  that  cometh  into 
the  world'  is  still  in  the  midst  of  us.  We  know  that  God's 
presence  is  in  the  world;  that  the  light  of  His  truth 
shines  through  a  divine  society,  through  His  Church 
that  will  never  disappear  from  the  world.  We  know 
that  the  presence  He  promised  is  always  here,  and  that 
the  spirit  of  truth  and  light  and  holiness  that  He  prom- 
ised never  disappears,  and  that  the  soul,  the  spirit,  His 
animating  principle,  is  now  and  always  in  the  midst  of 
men  and  in  the  midst  of  the  world,  and  His  spirit  is 
not  only  the  spirit  of  light  and  truth,  but  it  is  also  the 
spirit  of  grace  and  the  spirit  of  strength  in  man.  Men 
try  to  follow  the  guidance  of  the  light;  they  try  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  grace  and  of  the  strength  that  comes 
from  their  religion,  and  so  long  as  men  do  this,  their 
souls  rest  on  an  immutable  and  infallible  basis  and  there 
is  hope  for  every  man  who  does  so. 

"Therefore,  we  hope  for  and  believe  in  the  benefit  of 
mankind,  because  we  believe  in  something  outside  of 
man,  something  better,  higher,  wiser,  holier  than  he  is, 
and  because  we  find  this  visible  world  of  ours  is  sur- 


244       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

rounded  by  an  invisible  and  supernatural  world,  and 
that  man  finds  his  highest,  best  and  holiest  inspiration 
and  strength  and  grace  to  come  from  God  to  carry  out 
His  best  and  highest  motives  and  wishes. 

"Among  all  the  evils  of  this  world  there  is  one  which 
we  must  reckon  among  its  greatest,  and  that  is  the 
evil  of  intemperance,  which  has  been  in  the  ages  that 
are  gone,  the  curse  of  our  fallen  race.  It  is  one  of  the 
great  evils  of  the  world ;  I  may  say,  one  of  the  greatest. 
It  is  worse  than  war ;  it  is  worse  than  famine  and  pesti- 
lence; after  the  war,  peace  comes,  and  the  famine  and 
pestilence  cease  when  they  have  satiated  their  thirst  for 
victims. 

"But  intemperance  does  not  disappear.  It  leaves  its 
evil  trace  upon  all  generations  and  I  need  not  tell  of 
the  woes  that  it  causes,  the  widows  and  the  orphans,  and 
the  misery  and  disgrace  and  the  evil  deaths  that  it  pro- 
duces. They  who  take  up  this  cause,  as  you  intend  to 
do,  strive  as  far  as  they  can  to  put  an  end  to  it.  It  will 
most  likely  never  be  utterly  abolished  in  the  world,  but 
certainly  it  can  be  lessened,  and  in  places  and  localities 
it  can  be  made,  perhaps,  to  disappear.  To  effect  this, 
to  try  as  far  as  you  can  to  lessen  this  great,  monstrous 
evil  is  what  brings  you  together  here  today.  You  attempt 
a  great  work.  You  attempt  it  in  the  name  of  religion, 
under  the  inspiration  and  guidance  of  religion ;  you  hope 
to  carry  it  through  with  the  aids  and  the  grace  and  the 
strength  of  religion. 

"We  can  easily  understand  that  when  you  teach  men 
to  aspire  to  something  more  than  the  ordinary  things 
of  life,  as  you  try  to  teach  a  man  that  he  must  be 
a  temperate  man  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  you 
show  him  that  he  must  be  a  total  abstinence  man,  that 
he  must  abstain  altogether. 


A  FRIEND    OF    CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       245 

"This  is  the  highest  virtue,  and  men  do  not,  of  them- 
selves, naturally  try  to  practice  virtue  in  this  sense.  To 
do  this  requires  something  better,  higher,  stronger  than 
man  is  himself,  to  keep  him  and  guide  him  in  the  way 
of  this  great  virtue. 

"We  will  all  look  forward  to  wise  and  practical  meas- 
ures to  come  from  the  deliberations  of  this  congress.  I 
feel  assured  that  in  everything  you  do,  you  will  work  with 
the  highest  light  that  enlightens  the  world  and  ask  God 
to  aid  and  bless  you  in  the  work — that  all  your  delibera- 
tions and  your  acts  may  be  guided  by  prudence,  wisdom 
and  charity.  And  when  you  go  back  to  your  dear  homes 
you  will  bear  with  you,  I  hope,  pleasant  memories  of 
the  congress;  you  will  go  back  strengthened  and  en- 
couraged to  continue  this  great  work,  and  each  one  will 
become,  as  it  were,  the  center  in  his  own  place,  among 
his  friends,  his  kindred  and  people,  from  which  to  prop- 
agate and  increase  this  great  virtue  of  total  abstinence." 

Thus  it  was  that  Archbishop  Feehan  encouraged 
every  good  work  but  especially  the  work  done  system- 
atically by  our  Catholic  societies.  Small  wonder,  there- 
fore, that  under  his  administration  the  Catholic  societies 
throughout  the  Archdiocese  grew,  not  only  powerful  in 
numbers,  but  especially  strong  in  faith,  American  man- 
hood and  exemplary  charity.  The  Archbishop  was 
proud  of  his  societies  and  always  defended  them. 

A  brief  sketch  of  the  origin  of  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters,  compiled  by  the  Rev.  Father  James  M. 
Hayes,  S.  J.,  in  1891,  incidentally  shows  our  beloved 
Archbishop,  "the  Friend  of  the  Catholic  Societies,"  and 
at  the  same  time  is  of  sufficient  historical  interest  to 
warrant  its  entire  insertion.  The  sketch  appeared  in 
the  "Chicago  Catholic  Home"  May  30,  1891,  and  was 
written  by  Mr.  Thos.  Taylor. 


246       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Catholic  Home.    Mr.  Editor: 

"Having  been  requested  by  many  members  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  to  write  an  account  of  how 
the  Order  originated,  and  who  is  the  father  and  founder, 
I  would  say  that  I  would  not  undertake  this  account 
but  for  such  requests  made  by  my  old  friends,  now 
members  of  the  order. 

In  the  beginning  of  January,  1883,  Thomas  Taylor 
invited  John  Quirke  and  myself  to  come  together  and 
consider  a  plan  prepared  by  him,  for  establishing  upon 
a  broad  and  liberal  basis  a  new  social  and  beneficial 
association,  not  limited  to  Catholics  of  any  one  nation- 
ality, but  to  be  composed  of  Catholics  of  all  nationali- 
ties. I  must  say  that  of  the  gentlemen  invited  to  co- 
operate with  me,  Mr.  John  Quirke  was  the  only  one  to 
make  his  appearance  on  the  15th  of  January,  the  day 
appointed  for  our  meeting.  Mr.  Quirke  and  myself 
talked  together  for  a  long  time  on  all  kinds  of  benev- 
olent associations,  both  great  and  small,  and  of  what 
benefit  they  were  to  the  working  classes.  We  finally 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  a  great  good 
to  have  some  general  association  of  the  kind  composed 
entirely  of  Catholics.  In  such  a  society,  when  a  member 
died,  his  widow  or  orphans  would  receive  one  thousand 
dollars ;  and  this  sum,  if  properly  managed,  would  make 
them  comfortable  for  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
Hitherto  Catholic  workingmen  were  connected  only  with 
small  parish  societies,  each  numbering  from  thirty  to 
one  hundred  members.  In  these  societies,  on  the  death 
of  a  member,  only  a  small  sum  could  be  allowed  the 
widow  and  orphans,  indeed,  generally  very  little  more 
than  was  necessary  for  proper  funeral  expenses,  so  that 
in  many  cases  the  poor  widow  was  compelled  to  seek  for 
some  such  employment  as  washing  and  scrubbing  in 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES        247 

order  to  pay  her  rent  and  support  her  orphan  children. 

To  remedy  such  a  state  of  things  was  the  object  I 
had  in  view  in  trying  to  establish  the  organization  I  con- 
templated. I  believed  the  idea  was  practicable  here  in 
the  West,  as  I  knew  that  something  similar  was  already 
working  well  in  some  of  the  Eastern  States.  My  friend, 
Mr.  Quirke,  feared  that  if  such  an  organization  was 
formed  here,  the  politicians  of  the  city  would  soon  be 
in  it  and  would  try  to  use  it  for  their  own  purposes, 
and  not  for  the  advantage  of  the  working  classes  or  for 
the  widows  and  orphans.  I  explained  to  him  that  in 
my  plan  the  clergy  would  be  so  connected  with  the 
organization  as  to  render  such  a  misfortune  practically 
impossible. 

A  few  weeks  afterward  I  obtained  from  a  friend  in 
the  East  a  copy  of  the  first  Constitution  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  constitution 
under  which  they  were  organized  and  with  it  a  copy  of 
their  second  Constitution  and  other  papers  they  had 
revised.  I  then  drew  up  some  eight  or  ten  new  articles 
and  added  them  to  the  first  Constitution." 

A  BOUGH  CANVASS 

"My  friend,  Mr.  Quirke,  and  myself  then  agreed  to 
spend  a  certain  time  each  night  after  our  day's  work  in 
canvassing  St.  Columbkill's,  St.  Stephen's,  and  St. 
Malachi's  parishes  to  see  how  many  good  men  we  could 
get  to  join  our  new  organization.  We  placed  the  initia- 
tion fee  of  $3.00  (three  dollars)  and  I  must  say  that 
after  three  or  four  weeks'  time  in  tramping  around  at 
night,  in  cold  and  wet,  we  could  not  raise  as  much  as 
one  green  recruit.  Instead,  we  often  received  abusive 
language,  sometimes  even  from  the  men  who  were  after- 
wards glad  to  be  taken  into  the  C.  O.  F.  when  it  had 


248       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

been  organized.  Some  parties  objected  that  it  was  too 
clannish,  others  hinted  that  I  ought  to  be  sent  to  a  lun- 
atic asylum;  many  said  they  would  not  belong  to  any 
such  organization  unless  I  could  first  show  them  a  writ- 
ten letter  from  the  Archbishop  authorizing  the  project; 
others,  that  I  ought  to  wait  on  the  aldermen  of  the 
wards,  or  on  prominent  politicians  who  might  advance 
money  to  pay  hall  rent,  printing  and  other  such  ex- 
penses for  organization,  since  to  do  so  would  be  a  good 
way  of  advertising  their  names  before  the  public.  All 
this  kind  of  language  made  me  feel  depressed,  and  so 
discouraged  my  friend,  Mr.  Quirke,  that  even  he  began 
to  give  me  the  cold  shoulder,  and  then  left  me  to  paddle 
my  own  canoe  as  best  I  knew  how." 

DARK  DAYS 

"So  depressed  had  I  become  that  I  came  near  throw- 
ing the  whole  affair  overboard  and  destroying  all  the 
documents  I  had.  I  studied  the  matter  for  a  while,  and 
I  said  to  myself:  'I  will  visit  Father  Michael  Foley  and 
ascertain  his  opinion  of  my  plan.'  Father  Foley  was  at 
this  time  assistant  to  Father  Thomas  Burke,  pastor  of 
St.  Columbkill's, — my  own  parish.  We  came  together 
in  the  sitting  room.  I  stated  my  mission  and  the  object 
of  the  organization.  Father  Foley  expressed  his  ap- 
proval of  my  design,  but  told  me  at  the  same  time  that 
if  I  kept  on  alone,  I  would  have  a  hard  road  to  travel 
before  meeting  with  success.  Father  Foley's  remarks 
were,  on  the  whole,  so  encouraging,  that  I  began  to  feel 
twenty  years  younger.  He  finally  advised  me  to  go 
and  see  Father  Gill  at  the  priest's  house  in  the  Holy 
Name  parish.  The  good  Father  received  me  kindly, 
and  when  I  had  explained  matters,  expressed  his  ap- 
proval of  my  design  if  it  could  only  be  carried  out.  I 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES        249 

then  requested  Father  Gill  to  lay  the  Constitution  and 
other  papers  before  the  Archbishop  for  examination. 
This  he  promised  to  do.  In  about  two  weeks  afterward 
the  books  and  papers  were  returned  to  me  with  the 
statement  that  the  Archbishop  did  not  object  to  the 
organizing  of  such  a  society  in  connection  with  the 
Church,  provided  that  it  lived  up  to  the  laws  and  the 
spirit  of  the  Church. 

I  asked  Father  Gill  if  he  would  assist  me  to  organize. 
He  replied  that  he  would  willingly  do  so  if  he  had  lei- 
sure time,  but  that  the  great  amount  of  work  he  had 
then  on  hand  made  this  impossible.  He  then  advised 
me  to  call  on  one  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  either  Father 
Finnegan  or  Father  Hayes,  as  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  said 
he,  were  generally  well  experienced  in  such  matters. 
'If  your  idea  is  practicable,'  said  he,  'I  am  confident 
they  will  aid  you  in  carrying  it  out;  but  if  they  advise 
you  that  it  is  impracticable,  I  would  advise  you  to  give 
it  up.'  I  bade  Father  Gill  good-bye  and  he  wished  me 
good  luck  in  my  undertaking.  The  outlook  was  now 
certainly  far  from  bright,  but  I  determined  to  keep  on, 
saying  to  myself  that  whilst  there  was  life  there  was 
hope.  On  the  third  Sunday  of  April,  1883,  I  made  a 
visit  to  the  Holy  Family  parish. 

("This  visit  of  Mr.  Taylor,"  adds  the  compiler,  "was  not 
his  first  visit  to  the  Jesuit  Fathers  concerning  the  same 
subject.  Some  weeks  previously  he  had  called  on  the 
Spiritual  Director  of  the  American  League  of  the  Cross, 
Rev.  Father  Hayes,  S.  J.,  and  explained  his  idea.  Father 
Hayes  showed  himself  well  disposed  to  such  a  project,  if 
it  could  be  made  feasible.  He  said  he  needed  time  to 
reflect  and  invited  Mr.  Taylor  to  call  again,  telling  him  to 
try  in  the  meantime  to  get  as  many  people  as  possible, 
especially  the  priests  of  his  own  parish,  to  take  an  interest 
in  the  matter.  After  Mr.  Taylor's  visit,  Father  Hayes,  be- 
fore taking  any  public  action  in  the  matter,  went  to  consult 
Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Feehan.  His  Grace,  with  his  usual 
kindness,  expressed  to  Father  Hayes  his  entire  agreement 


250       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

with  him  as  to  the  great  need  of  truly  Catholic  organiza- 
tions of  the  kind,  and  spoke  of  his  great  willingness  to 
foster  them,  illustrating  his  remarks  by  references  to  what 
he  himself  had  done  in  the  same  line  whilst  he  was 
Bishop  of  Nashville." 

On  his  return  from  the  Archbishop,  Father  Hayes  re- 
lated to  his  Superior,  Rev.  Thomas  O'Neill,  S.  J.,  Rector 
of  St.  Ignatius'  College,  the  favorable  result  of  his  visit. 

The  mentioning  to  Father  O'Neill  of  the  warm  approval 
of  the  Archbishop  naturally  resulted  in  a  promise  from 
him  to  do  his  best  in  favor  of  the  new  organization. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Taylor's 
next  visit,  namely,  the  visit  mentioned  in  the  text  above, 
the  third  Sunday  of  April.) 

On  the  third  Sunday  of  April,  1883,  I  made  a  visit 
to  the  Holy  Family  parish  and  met  by  appointment 
an  old  shop-mate  of  mine  opposite  the  church,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Woof,  who  accompanied  me  to  see  Father  Fin- 
negan,  S.  J.  The  latter  received  us  very  kindly.  I 
explained  my  mission  to  him  and  the  objects  and  aims 
of  the  organization.  I  also  laid  before  him  the  Con- 
stitution and  papers  which  I  had  received  from  the  East, 
and  asked  him  permission  to  call  a  meeting  in  the  Sodal- 
ity Hall.  Father  Finnegan  said  that  this  could  only 
be  granted  by  the  Superior,  Rev.  Thos.  O'Neill,  but 
that  he  would  try  to  obtain  it  for  us.  He  then  went 
to  see  Father  O'Neill  and  brought  him  to  meet  us  in 
the  receiving  room  where  we  were.  Good  Father 
O'Neill,  President  of  St.  Ignatius'  College,  having 
learned  from  Father  Finnegan  and  ourselves  the  pur- 
pose of  our  visit,  said  in  a  kind  tone  of  voice:  'Well, 
now,  Mr.  Taylor,  what  do  you  want  me  to  do  for  you?' 

'I  want  you,  Rev.  Father,'  I  replied,  'to  give  me 
permission  to  call  a  meeting  in  the  Sodality  Hall  to 
see  if  we  can  form  this  organization.' 

'You  have  my  permission  and  I  shall  send  word  to 
the  janitor  to  let  you  hold  your  meetings  whenever  you 
think  fit.'  So  that  through  the  good  words  of  Father 


A  FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES        251 

Finnegan  to  Father  O'Neill  we  got  leave  to  form  Court 
No.  1  of  the  C.  O.  F.  in  the  Holy  Family  parish.  Father 
Hayes  and  Father  Finnegan  were  appointed  by  Father 
O'Neill  to  assist  in  organizing  and  to  attend  the  meet- 
ings. I  thanked  Father  Finnegan  for  his  good  work 
and  left  for  home  as  light  and  as  swift  as  a  March 
mountain  hare." 

THE  FIRST  MEETING 

"I  made  some  calls  on  that  untiring  worker  for  the 
interests  of  the  order,  Dr.  F.  W.  Fitzgerald,  at  his  resi- 
dence at  West  Taylor  Street,  in  order  to  have  the  doctor 
engaged  for  our  first  meeting.  I  then  got  a  few  thou- 
sand circulars  printed  calling  the  first  meeting  in  Sodal- 
ity Hall,  corner  May  and  llth  Street,  May  6,  1883.  Mr. 
George  Bracken,  the  present  Financial  Secretary  of 
Court  No.  1,  and  Mr.  William  Woof  and  his  son, 
volunteered  their  services  to  distribute  these  circulars 
on  account  of  my  living  so  far  away  from  the  Holy 
Family  Church.  In  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  May  6th, 
we  had  our  first  meeting.  It  was  well  attended.  Father 
Hayes  was  asked  to  be  chairman,  but  he  explained  that 
in  his  opinion  the  office  of  the  clergy  in  the  new  organ- 
ization was  rather  'to  direct  and  assist,'  and  that  the 
active  work  of  the  order  belonged  to  the  Catholic  lay- 
men themselves.  We  accordingly  invited  Dr.  Fitz- 
gerald to  take  the  chair,  which  he  did,  thanking  the 
meeting  for  the  honor  done  him.  At  the  request  of  the 
Chairman,  Father  Hayes  explained  briefly  the  object 
and  aim  of  the  new  association  and  the  advantages  at- 
tending its  membership.  Then  began  the  subscription 
of  the  names  of  those  who  desired  to  become  members. 
These  amounted  to  sixty.  This  gratifying  result  of  our 
first  meeting  made  every  one  feel  confident  that  the  new 


252       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

order  was  already  an  assured  success,  and  all  left  the 
Sodality  building  mutually  congratulating  one  another. 
On  the  following  Sunday  Father  Hayes  had  notices 
read  at  all  the  Masses  in  Holy  Family  Church,  inviting 
attendance  at  the  next  meeting.  This  second  meeting 
was  a  very  large  one  and  quite  a  number  of  names  was 
added  to  the  list.  At  our  third  or  fourth  meeting  the 
number  of  members  already  enrolled  was  found  to  be 
so  large  that  it  was  resolved  to  send  to  Springfield  a 
committee  named  by  the  Chairman  in  order  to  obtain 
a  charter.  The  first  name  proposed  was  that  of  Thomas 
Taylor,  but  for  personal  reasons  of  my  own,  I  respect- 
fully declined  the  honor.  We  likewise  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  five  (5)  on  Constitution  and  By-Laws.  This 
committee  consisted  of  Thomas  Taylor,  Dr.  Fitzgerald, 
Father  Hayes,  Father  Finnegan,  and  M.  B.  Bailey." 

A  CONSTITUTION   ADOPTED 

"After  due  consideration  the  committee  adopted,  with 
some  changes,  the  Constitution  of  the  Massachusetts 
C.  O.  F.  A  committee  of  eleven  (11)  also  was  ap- 
pointed for  the  good  and  welfare  of  the  order.  This 
committee  met  once  a  week  in  the  Sodality  Building. 
Your  humble  servant  attended  every  meeting  night, 
though  he  had  to  travel  a  distance  of  four  miles  to  do 
so,  and  often  found  an  attendance  of  only  three  or  four 
members.  Unpleasant  as  this  was,  I  did  not  allow  it 
to  discourage  me,  for  I  had  become  accustomed  to  see 
black  clouds  hang  over  the  C.  O.  F.  for  a  while  and  then 
pass  away. 

After  the  charter  was  received,  Mr.  J.  C.  Graham, 
Dr.  Fitzgerald  and  Thomas  Taylor,  being  considered 
to  be  men  acceptable  in  every  respect  to  the  clergy,  were 
selected  for  the  delicate  task  of  visiting  the  different 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       253 

parishes  in  order  to  get  permission  from  the  clergy  to 
form  courts  in  them.  Among  the  charter  members  of 
Court  No.  1,  who  gave  freely  of  their  time  to  the  work 
of  organization  were  Bros.  Collins,  Clowry,  Mat.  Flem- 
ing, Dooley  and  others,  whose  names  I  cannot  just  now 
recall  to  mind." 

THE   PIONEER   COURT 

"On  June  15,  1883,  the  first  meeting  of  Holy  Family 
Court  No.  1  was  held  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  C.  R.,  Mat.  Fleming;  V.  C.  R.,  M.  J.  Dooley; 
Rec.  Secretary,  Hugh  Murray;  Fin.  Secretary,  George 
R.  Bracken;  Treasurer,  J.  L.  Smith;  Sen.  Conductor, 
J.  J.  Shannahan;  Jr.  Conductor,  W.  J.  Carrigan;  In- 
side Sent.,  Thos.  Dunnigan;  Outside  Sent.,  John  M. 
O'Neill;  Court  Physician,  Dr.  F.  W.  Fitzgerald. 

This  Charter  Committee,  appointed  by  Chairman 
Fitzgerald,  evidently  lost  no  time  in  attending  to  busi- 
ness, as  we  find  that  they  obtained  the  Charter  on  May 
24,  1883.  Their  names,  in  the  order  given  in  the  State 
document,  declaring  them  'the  Directors  to  control  and 
manage  said  corporation  for  the  first  year  of  its  cor- 
porate existence,'  are:  Patrick  Keane,  John  J.  Collins, 
Francis  W.  Fitzgerald,  John  K.  Clowry,  Michael  B. 
Bailey,  Mathew  Fleming,  John  F.  Scanlan. 

As  a  member  of  the  first  committee  for  framing  a 
Constitution  and  By-Laws,  the  compiler  of  the  present 
sketch  wishes  to  record  that  the  Committee  was  much 
indebted  for  whatever  success  it  attained  to  the  great 
experience  in  such  work  of  Dr.  Fitzgerald  and  Mr. 
John  F.  Scanlan. 

In  July,  1883,  I  made  a  visit  to  Father  Tom  Burke 
to  get  permission  to  call  a  meeting  in  the  basement  of 
St.  Columbkill's  Church  to  form  Court  No.  2.  The 
good  old  Father  cordially  gave  me  the  permission  asked 

18 


254       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

for.  Court  No.  2  was  organized  with  fifty  (50)  mem- 
bers, Thomas  Taylor  being  elected  the  first  C.  R.  The 
following  is  the  complete  list  of  first  officers:  C.  R., 
Thomas  Taylor;  V.  C.  R.,  J.  P.  Malley;  R.  S.,  Thomas 
Dwane;  F.  S.,  Thos.  Ford;  Treasurer,  P.  J.  Sheehy; 
S.  C.,  Frank  Brady;  J.  C.,  P.  Fleming;  O.  S.,  Mich. 
Soraghon;  L.  S.,  Patrick  Hayes;  Trustees:  Edward 
Hayes,  Pat.  O'Brien,  Tim.  Scanlan;  C.  P.,  Dr.  J.  B. 
Phelan. 

About  this  time  the  Board  of  Directors  issued  their 
first  public  circular  setting  forth  the  advantages  of  the 
C.  O.  F.  and  recommending  its  establishment  in  all  the 
parishes  of  the  State.  'The  first  Subordinate  Court  or- 
ganized under  our  charter,'  says  the  circular,  'was  that 
organized  in  the  Holy  Family  Parish,  Chicago,  June 
15, 1883,  under  the  chaplaincy  of  Rev.  James  M.  Hayes, 
S.  J.  To  this  reverend  gentleman  we  would,  with  per- 
mission, respectfully  invite  reference  as  to  the  thor- 
oughly Catholic  standing  of  the  undersigned  Directors.' 
This  circular  was  signed  by  Bros.  John  F.  Scanlan, 
Michael  B.  Bailey,  F.  W.  Fitzgerald,  Mathew  Flem- 
ing, Maurice  J.  Dooley,  Daniel  J.  McMahon,  Patrick 
Keane,  James  C.  Graham,  John  J.  Collins,  Wm.  J. 
Dormin,  John  K.  Clowry,  Thomas  Taylor. 

The  history  of  the  C.  O.  F.  from  this  time  forward 
is  so  well  known  to  your  readers,  that  to  continue  my 
narrative  further  would  be  superfluous." 
Yours  respectfully, 

THOMAS  TAYLOR, 
Res.  668  W.  Ohio  St.,  Chicago.  Court  No.  1. 

P.  S. — I  would  like  to  mention  that  I  have  letters 
from  the  clergy  recognizing  my  labors  as  the  Father 
and  Founder  of  the  C.  O.  F.,  as  for  instance  the  one 
from  Father  Finnegan,  S.  J.,  after  his  removal  to 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       255 

Detroit  to  assume  charge  of  the  church  of  the  Jesuit 
Fathers  in  that  city,     (follows  letter) 

Detroit,  Mich.,  January  14,  1886. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  note  came  to  hand  this  morning, 
and  in  reply  I  wish  to  state  that  I  left  the  copy  of  the 
Constitutions  inquired  for  in  the  reading-room  of  the 
Sodality  Hall.  Doubtless  they  have  been  taken  up  by 
some  of  the  C.  O.  F.  I  got  my  copy  on  application  to 
Rev.  Fr.  McNally,  Secretary  of  the  Catholic  Benev- 
olent and  Insurance  Societies  of  San  Francisco.  If 
you  get  Father  Hayes  to  apply  for  you  to  the  priest 
or  apply  yourself,  I  am  sure  you  can  get  a  copy. 

I  am  sorry  I  did  not  hand  them  over  to  you  as  the 
Father  and  Founder  of  the  Catholic  Foresters.  If  I 
can,  I  will  send  you  the  Constitutions  of  the  C.  M.  B. 
A.,  the  great  Catholic  Insurance  Society  of  the  Eastern 
States. 

Wishing  you  every  success,  I  remain, 
Yours  in  Christ, 

H.  M.  FlNNEGAN,  S.  J. 

NOTE  BY  FATHER  HAYES,  S.  J.,  FIRST  CHAPLAIN  OF  THE 
FIRST  ORGANIZED  COURT. 

In  justice  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Thomas  Taylor,  now 
deceased,  it  seems  but  proper  for  the  undersigned  to 
state  that  he  has  always  regarded  Mr.  Taylor's  account 
of  the  origin  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  as  in 
every  important  respect  correct  and  reliable. 

(Signed)  REV.  JAMES  M.  HAYES,  S.  J. 

Chicago,  February  4,  1903. 

APPENDIX 

In  connection  with  Mr.  Taylor's  account  of  the  origin 
of  the  order,  the  following  document  written  on  the  occa- 


THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

sion  of  the  Order's  first  public  display,  will  not  be  with- 
out interest.  It  was  written  by  Father  Hayes,  S.  J., 
for  the  Holy  Family  Court,  but  was  adopted  by  the 
General  Committee  as  expressive  of  the  sentiments  of 
the  entire  order. 

CONGRATULATORY  ADDRESS  OF  THE  ORDER  OF  FORESTERS  TO 
MOST  REV.  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN  ON  THE  OCCASION  OF 
HIS  SILVER  JUBILEE,  OCTOBER  29,  1890. 

"Most  Rev.  Archbishop: 

"Amid  the  general  rejoicing  of  Your  Grace's  Jubilee, 
the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  gladly  avail  themselves 
of  the  short  time  allowed  them  to  offer  to  Your  Grace 
their  heartfelt  congratulations  for  your  special  kindness 
to  their  Order. 

"This  they  do  all  the  more  affectionately  as  it  was 
under  Your  Grace's  kind  patronage  that  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters  itself  came  into  being.  A  Catholic 
society  which  has  for  its  object  'the  charitable  work  of 
aiding  the  sick  and  relieving  the  widows  and  orphans,' 
could  not  but  recommend  itself  to  one  so  deeply  pene- 
trated with  the  spirit  of  Christian  charity  as  is  Your 
Grace. 

"Your  approval  was  the  more  readily  given  that  the 
objects  of  our  society  accords  with  the  recommendation 
of  the  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore,  of  which  Your 
Grace  was  a  distinguished  member.  'We  esteem,'  says 
the  Council,  'as  a  very  important  element  in  practical 
Catholicity,  the  various  forms  of  Catholic  beneficial  so- 
cieties and  kindred  associations  of  Catholic  working- 
men.  It  ought  to  be  and  we  trust  is  everywhere  their 
aim  to  encourage  habits  of  industry,  thrift  and  sobriety ; 
to  guard  the  members  against  the  dangerous  attractions 
of  condemned  or  suspicious  organizations,  and  to  secure 


A   FRIEND    OF   CATHOLIC   SOCIETIES       257 

the  faithful  practice  of  their  religious  duties,  on  which 
their  temporal  as  well  as  their  eternal  welfare  largely 
depends.  With  paternal  affection  we  bestow  our  bless- 
ing upon  all  these  various  forms  of  Catholic  combined 
action  for  useful  and  holy  purposes.  We  desire  to  see 
their  number  multiplied  and  their  organizations  per- 
fected.' 

"Remembering  also  that  the  Council  says:  'The  more 
closely  pastors  and  people  are  united  in  good  works, 
the  more  abundantly  will  those  associations  be  blessed 
and  their  ends  accomplished,  the  more  perfectly  will  all 
Christians  be  united  in  fraternal  charity,'  we  have 
sought  ever  to  strengthen  the  bonds  between  us  and  our 
chief  pastor,  and  now,  Most  Rev.  Chaplain,  we  most 
heartily  come  to  salute  Your  Grace  on  the  festival  of 
your  Silver  Jubilee." 


CHAPTER  XIX 
THE  WORLD'S  FAIR 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SECOND  CATHOLIC  CON- 
GRESS— TOPICS  TREATED  —  HIS  WELCOME  SPEECH  —  THE 
GENERAL  INTEREST  IN  THE  CONGRESS — THE  CATHOLIC  EDUCA- 
TIONAL DAY — THE  ADDRESS  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP — THE  MAG- 
NIFICENT CATHOLIC  EXHIBIT  —  THE  "PROTECTOR  OF  OUR 
SCHOOLS." 

IN  the  United  States  there  have  been  held  two  con- 
gresses of  Catholic  laymen  during  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. In  conjunction  with  the  celebration  of  the  cen- 
tenary of  the  establishment  of  the  hierarchy  of  the  United 
States  by  Pius  VII  in  1789,  and  the  dedication  of  the 
Catholic  University  at  Washington,  the  first  Catholic 
Congress  of  the  United  States  met  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, on  November  11  and  12,  1889.  The  sessions  of 
the  second  Catholic  Congress  were  held  at  Chicago  on 
4th,  5th  and  6th  of  September,  1893,  as  incidental  to 
the  World's  Congress  Auxiliary  of  the  Columbian 
Exposition  and  World's  Fair  of  that  year.  Archbishop 
Feehan  and  Mr.  William  J.  Onahan  were  president  and 
secretary  of  the  committee  on  organization,  by  which 
it  was  decided  that  three  topics  should  be  treated  during 
the  sessions:  The  Social  Question  as  outlined  by  Leo 
XIII  in  his  encyclical  "Rerum  Novarum,"  Catholic 
Education,  and  The  Independence  of  the  Holy  See. 

The  busy  western  metropolis  had  during  the  summer 
months  been  the  theater  of  a  stupendous  "World's  Fair" 
of  arts  and  industries,  held  under  government  auspices 
in  honor  of  the  quarto-centenary  of  the  discovery  by 
Christopher  Columbus.  Visitors  from  all  nations 
thronged  to  this  Columbian  Jubilee  and  advantage  was 

258 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  259 

taken  of  the  occasion  to  hold  a  series  of  congresses  of 
more  than  national  interest,  the  beautiful  Art  Palace 
provided  by  the  exposition  authorities  being  devoted  to 
their  sessions.  Here,  accordingly,  was  held  the  Catholic 
Congress,  which  was  the  Mecca,  from  day  to  day,  of 
vast  crowds  of  the  faithful,  and  was  honored  by  such 
an  attendance  of  our  prelates  and  clergy  as  was  never 
before  present  at  an  assembly  of  the  kind.  In  many 
respects,  indeed,  the  gathering  was  unique  even  in  the 
history  of  the  Church  of  God;  and  in  the  addresses  and 
papers  delivered  on  the  occasion  may  best  be  learned 
the  aims,  the  inspiration  and  glorious  work  of  this  great 
Catholic  Congress. 

On  the  morning  of  September  4th,  the  first  day  of 
the  assembly,  the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  offered  for  its  suc- 
cess at  St.  Mary's  Church,  in  the  presence  of  His  Emi- 
nence, Cardinal  Gibbons,  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  of 
the  diocese,  and  many  illustrious  prelates  and  priests, 
besides  the  body  of  the  delegates  who  were  to  participate 
in  the  congress.  The  Solemn  High  Mass  was  celebrated 
by  Rev.  E.  J.  Dunne,  of  Chicago,  with  Rev.  J.  Ball- 
man,  of  Sag  Bridge,  as  deacon,  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Dore, 
as  sub-deacon.  The  discourse  of  the  occasion  was  made 
by  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  Chancellor  of  the  Chicago 
Archdiocese. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  sacred  services  the  delegates 
marched  in  procession  to  the  Art  Palace,  the  Cardinal 
and  other  dignitaries  accompanying  in  carriages.  These 
were  welcomed  at  the  door  of  the  beautiful  edifice  by 
President  Bonney  of  the  World's  Congress  Auxiliary, 
and  other  officials.  The  decorations  were  rich  and  ap- 
propriate, the  colors  of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  being  in 
striking  evidence. 

The  first  day's  proceedings  were  promptly  inaugu- 


260       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

rated  by  Hon.  W.  J.  Onahan,  of  Chicago,  secretary  of 
the  committee  on  organization,  who  said: 

"Gentlemen,  and  I  am  happy  to  add,  Ladies — for 
there  are  ladies  among  the  appointed  delegates  to  the 
Catholic  Congress:  It  is  my  pleasant  and  honorable 
duty,  representing  the  committee  on  organization,  to 
call  to  order  the  Columbian  Catholic  Congress,  which 
I  now  cordially  do.  The  first  words  to  be  addressed  to 
you  are  naturally  words  of  hearty  welcome.  By  no  one 
may  those  words  be  more  graciously  or  more  appro- 
priately spoken  than  by  the  venerable  and  Most  Rev. 
Archbishop  of  Chicago." 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN'S  WELCOME 

"Members  of  the  Catholic  Congress — both  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  composing  it: 

"It  is  for  me  a  most  happy  occasion  that  it  becomes 
my  duty,  in  the  name  of  the  Catholic  body  of  this  city, 
and  also  in  my  own,  to  welcome  you  to  Chicago.  You 
are  assembled  here  from  various  portions  of  our  coun- 
try, not  only  from  the  parts  that  are  near  but  also  from 
the  most  remote.  You  must  have  been  brought  together 
by  a  strong,  high  motive,  as  you  are  bound  together 
when  you  come  here  by  the  strongest  of  all  bonds,  that 
of  a  common  faith.  You  come  in  the  spirit  of  our  faith, 
actuated,  directed  by  our  faith.  You  come  not  to  ques- 
tion or  to  affect,  in  any  way  whatever,  the  ancient  faith 
and  discipline  of  the  Catholic  Church,  but  you  come  to 
discuss  some  of  the  great  questions  and  problems  of  life 
and  of  our  time  that  are  intimately  connected  with,  and 
that  spring  from  the  teaching  of  our  Catholic  faith. 
There  are  no  questions  of  our  time  more  interesting  or 
more  important  than  those  that  are  on  the  programme 
of  the  Catholic  Congress. 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  261 

"We  have  that  great  question  of  the  independence  of 
the  Holy  See ;  you  have  that  great  question — one  of  the 
greatest  of  all — that  of  Catholic  education.  Then  you 
have  the  great  social  questions  of  the  day,  the  ideas  of 
which  have  been  taken  in  a  great  measure,  at  least,  from 
the  encyclicals  of  our  Holy  Father,  Pope  Leo  XIII. 
You  come  here  then  with  very  grave  responsibilities. 
You  come,  as  it  were,  as  the  center  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  You  come  representing  its  thought,  its  life, 
its  interests.  You  do  not  represent  yourselves  individ- 
ually, nor  do  you  represent  any  special  theories  or  fan- 
cies of  individuals  of  our  times;  but  you  represent  par- 
ishes, congregations,  bishops,  whole  dioceses,  great 
states — you  represent  all  these  vast  and  mighty  in- 
terests, and  as  a  vast  body  you  represent  at  least  the 
ten  million  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  if  not  more. 
You  come  then  as  to  a  great  center.  You  come  as 
brave,  wise  men,  to  discuss  great  questions  for  the  in- 
terests of  those  millions. 

"You  don't  come  to  please  yourselves;  you  don't  come 
for  the  mere  pleasure  of  coming,  nor  for  recreation, 
as  so  many  multitudes  are  coming  just  now  to  our  city, 
though  these  need  not  be  excluded;  but  you  come  prin- 
cipally for  that  grand,  high  work  that  has  been  placed 
in  your  hands  of  looking  after  the  interests  that  are 
involved  in  some  of  the  great  questions  that  will  be  dis- 
cussed and  spoken  of  in  this  assembly.  You  assemble 
here  today  in  a  high  spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  Catholic 
Church,  of  loyalty  to  its  supreme  pastor,  Pope  Leo 
XIII.  You  come  together  as  sons  of  the  great  head 
of  the  faith.  You  come  mindful  that  God's  Church  is 
your  great  mother,  and,  as  the  loyal  sons  in  a  family 
will  always  uphold  the  dignity  and  honor  of  the  family, 
so  will  this  vast  assembly  uphold  before  the  whole  world 


262       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

the  honor,  the  nobility,  and  the  dignity  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Not  less  are  you  concerned  for  the  interests 
of  our  common  country.  The  men  of  other  lands  are 
today,  and  tomorrow  will  be,  looking  to  the  results  of 
this  Catholic  Congress  in  Chicago.  The  world  is  full 
of  agitation.  Men's  minds  are  everywhere  active,  and 
men  in  every  civilized  land  today  and  tomorrow  will  be 
looking  forward  to  know  and  to  see  what  free  men  in  a 
free  land  can  feel  and  think  about  the  great  questions 
that  are  agitating  our  times,  and  that  are  everywhere 
pressing  for  a  solution.  You  have  then  at  heart  the 
honor  and  the  dignity  of  the  Church  and  of  the  whole 
Catholic  faith.  You  will  watch  over  them  carefully  in 
your  addresses  and  in  your  deliberations.  We  know 
and  believe,  all  of  us,  earnestly  and  firmly,  that  no  word 
will  go  out  to  the  world  from  this  Catholic  Congress 
that  will  wound  or  offend  in  the  slightest  degree  the 
Catholic  conscience  or  Catholic  feeling  of  our  people 
throughout  the  United  States. 

"We  know  that  all  your  deliberations  will  be  guided 
by  that  spirit  by  which  you  were  influenced  today.  With- 
in an  hour  or  so  you  have  been  in  God's  presence  and  in 
His  temple,  and  you  have  asked  the  Spirit  of  God  to 
come  down  to  your  souls  and  guide  your  deliberations. 
We  all  hope  that  the  Spirit  of  God  and  the  spirit  of 
light  will  be  with  you,  and  that  everything  you  say  or 
do  will  be  guided  by  that  high,  strong  fidelity  of  Cath- 
olic sons  to  our  Catholic  faith,  and  that  everything 
you  say  or  do  will  be  distinguished  by  the  dignity  and 
the  harmony  that  we  have  the  right,  as  we  have  every 
reason,  to  expect  from  this  great  representative  body 
of  the  Catholic  faith  and  the  Catholic  people.  You  will 
have  the  pleasure  now  of  hearing  from  Mr.  Bonney,  the 
gentleman  who  has  been  the  life  and  soul  of  all  these 


THE   WORLD'S  FAIR  263 

organizations  and  congresses,  except  the  Catholic  Con- 
gress, connected  with  the  great  Exposition." 

Hon.  Chas.  C.  Bonney,  who  was  a  non-Catholic  law- 
yer, then  delivered  what  may  be  termed  the  "official" 
welcome.  He  welcomed  the  delegates  "on  behalf  of  the 
World's  Exposition  and  the  fifty  million  non-Catholics 
who  loved  justice  and  religious  liberty."  Cardinal  Gib- 
bons also  spoke,  and  on  the  second  day  Archbishop 
Satolli,  who  represented  the  Pope  at  the  World's  Ex- 
position, greeted  the  congress  in  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Father.  Other  visitors  were  Archbishop  Redwood  of 
Australia,  and  Count  de  Kaefstein  of  Austria.  Letters 
from  Cardinals  Vaughan  and  Logue  were  read. 

The  various  congresses  were  watched  with  interest, 
attended  in  large  numbers,  and  reported  in  a  princely 
manner,  but  none  received  such  marked  attention  from 
people  and  press  as  the  Catholic  Congress.  From  the 
opening  prayer  to  the  last  word  of  the  strong  resolu- 
tions, the  halls  were  filled  and  seeds  were  sown  that  were 
sure  to  bring  rich  fruit. 

THE  CATHOLIC  EDUCATIONAL  EXHIBIT 

The  Columbian  Exposition  gloriously  surpassed  all 
former  efforts  in  the  same  line,  and  unmistakably  the 
Catholic  Church  never  worked  so  energetically  or  dis- 
played herself  so  conspicuously  to  engage  the  respect, 
admiration,  and  love  of  the  world  as  in  this  exposition. 
All  classes  and  creeds,  some  in  praise,  others  in  criticism, 
announced  that  the  Catholic  Church  had  caught  every 
inspiration,  and  had  taken  advantage  of  every  oppor- 
tunity. We  feel  that  this  was  nowhere  more  conspic- 
uously patent  than  in  the  Catholic  Educational  Ex- 
hibit. Catholics  visited  the  section,  and  beheld  in  as- 
tonishment the  abundance,  variety,  and  general  perfec- 


264       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

tion  of  the  Exhibit.  They  departed  proud  that  they  were 
of  the  fold,  and  silently  promised  to  be  more  generous 
in  the  future  in  aid  of  the  good  cause.  Non-Catholics 
found  their  way  to  the  Catholic  Exhibit,  and  some  will- 
ingly, others  by  forced  conviction,  pronounced  it  a  reve- 
lation, a  lesson,  and  a  herculean  task  wonderfully  well 
accomplished.  Among  Catholics  the  Catholic  educa- 
tional display  had  advanced  at  one  bold  stroke  the  cause 
of  Catholic  education  a  quarter  of  a  century ;  and  among 
non-Catholics  it  had  undoubtedly  dissipated  prejudice 
that  in  the  usual  flow  of  events  would  not  have  been 
obliterated  in  fifty  years. 

Listen  to  the  statement  of  the  Popular  Educator, 
published  in  New  York:  "The  parochial  school  system 
has  scored  a  point  at  the  Fair,  giving  much  good  reason 
for  the  erasure  of  the  past  criticism  that  parochial  schools 
teach  sewing  and  catechism.  Sewing  and  beautiful  em- 
broideries and  water-color  drawings  are  there,  to  be 
sure,  making  the  aisle  rich  with  tints,  but  there  is  also 
plenty  of  good  work  in  the  line  and  apparently  accord- 
ing to  methods  of  the  public  schools."  (Nov.,  1893.) 

The  Chicago  Herald  of  June  5,  1893,  says:  "In  the 
southeastern  section  of  the  Manufacturers'  Building,  on 
the  gallery  floor,  is  an  exhibit  which  should  attract  the 
attention  and  excite  the  admiration  of  all  good  people, 
be  they  Presbyterians,  Methodists,  Baptists,  or  the  peo- 
ple who  are  responsible  for  the  show.  The  Catholic 
Educational  Exhibit  is  the  feature  referred  to.  It  is 
not  extended  as  a  religious  propaganda;  it  is  simply  a 
material  exposition  of  what  the  people  of  one  great 
faith  can  do  in  the  way  of  promoting  humanity  and  the 
world's  progress.  All  together,  when  fully  installed, 
the  Catholic  Educational  Exhibit  will  be  one  of  the 
most  interesting  features  of  the  great  Fair." 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  265 

We  might  quote  indefinitely  the  highest  encomiums 
passed  upon  the  Exhibit  from  non-Catholic  sources,  but 
we  refrain,  and  beg  to  place  before  you  the  kind  and 
strong  commendation  of  Dr.  Selim  H.  Peabody,  the 
Chief  of  the  Liberal  Arts  Department.  From  his  of- 
ficial capacity  and  his  intimate  knowledge  with  the 
various  exhibits  in  his  department,  his  judgment  implies 
far  more  than  that  of  any  other. 

In  his  speech  of  reception  of  the  Exhibit  from  Right 
Rev.  John  L.  Spalding,  D.  D.,  as  President  of  the  Cath- 
olic Exhibit,  Doctor  Peabody  was  frank  and  generous 
to  state  that  he  considered  the  Catholic  Educational 
Exhibit  not  only  one  of  the  choicest  of  his  department, 
and  a  revelation  to  the  American  public,  but  also  one  of 
the  great  features  of  the  Exposition.  At  another  date, 
in  response  to  Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan,  D.  D.,  who 
presented  the  Educational  Exhibit  of  the  Archdiocese 
of  Chicago,  he  said:  "It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to 
be  present  today,  as  I  stand  before  you,  the  Chief  of 
the  Liberal  Arts  Department,  to  receive  in  the  name  of 
the  great  Columbian  Exposition  the  Chicago  Educa- 
tional Exhibit.  None  save  those  who  have  labored  in 
this  field  can  value  the  vast  amount  of  labor  of  such  an 
Exhibit,  and  one  so  neat,  and  so  tastefully  arranged. 
Without  flattery,  I  can  honestly  say  and  feel  that  the 
compliment  is  justly  given  that  the  Chicago  Exhibit  is 
the  gem  of  my  department.  We  may  have  different 
views  in  school  policy,  still  I  feel  that  all  true  educators 
will  be  greatly  benefited  by  our  entire  Educational 
Exhibit.  You  may  see  what  we  are  accomplishing  and 
we  may  examine  the  result  of  your  school  system.  The 
result  of  such  intercourse  in  the  Exposition  will  be  a 
broader  conception  of  education  and  a  larger  love  for 
all  who  are  tending  to  one  end,  namely,  to  make  our 
youth  holier,  truer  scholars,  and  better  citizens." 


266       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

We  feel  it  incumbent  upon  us  to  record  the  written 
testimony  of  the  Apostolic  Delegate,  Most  Rev.  Francis 
Satolli,  D.  D.,  made  after  a  careful  scrutiny  of  the  ex- 
hibit. It  is  as  follows:  "I  admire  the  evidences  of  good 
methods  of  teaching  in  so  many  branches  of  instruction, 
but  most  particularly  do  I  admire  the  perfection  of  all 
the  work  exhibited.  I  regard  the  Catholic  Educational 
Exhibit  as  the  glory  of  the  Church  and  Catholic  Insti- 
tutions. The  whole  American  country  will  appreciate 
it." 

CATHOLIC  EDUCATION  DAY 

World's  Columbian  Exposition, 
Chicago,  1893. 

Most  Rev.  P.  A.  Feehan,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Chicago, 

Presiding. 

Rt.  Rev.  J.  L.  Spalding,  D.  D.,  President  Catholic  Educa- 
tional Exhibit,  Director  of  Ceremonies. 

ORDER  OF  EXERCISES 

AMERICAN  REPUBLIC  MARCH — (Thiele) 

Brand's  Cincinnati  Band 

WORDS  OF  WELCOME His  Grace,  Archbishop  Feehan 

THE  CATHOLIC  VIEW  OF  EDUCATION 

Most  Rev.  John  Hennessy,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Dubuque 
ORGAN  SOLO — Tema  Con  Variazioni  (Mossowski) 

Harrison  Wilde 

VOCATION  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  EDUCATOR 

Most  Rev.  P.  J.  Ryan,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Philadelphia 
WHAT  CATHOLICS  HAVE  DONE  FOR  EDUCATION  IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES 

Hon.  Morgan  J.  O'Brien,  New  York  State  Supreme  Court 
ORGAN  SOLO — OVERTURE — "Guillaume  Tell"  (Rossini) . . . 

Harrison  Wilde 

PATRIOTISM — A  SEQUENCE  OF  CATHOLIC  EDUCATION 

Hon.  Thomas  J.  Gargan,  Boston,  Mass. 

HY^N— TE  DEUM— (Holy  God  We  Praise  Thy  Name) . . 

Organ  Accompaniment 

FINALE — American  Airs  (Catlin)  .Brand's  Cincinnati  Band 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  American  Republic  March 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  267 

by  Brand's  Cincinnati  Band,  Archbishop  Feehan  de- 
livered the  address  of  welcome.    He  spoke  as  follows: 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN'S  ADDRESS 

"We  are  assembled  today,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  in 
a  very  noble  cause.  We  are  come  together  as  Catholics 
and  as  good  citizens  also.  We  are  assembled  as  Cath- 
olics, deeply  and  earnestly  interested  in  that  great  cause 
— and  I  may  say  one  of  the  greatest  of  causes, — that 
of  the  Catholic  education  of  youth.  And  because  we 
are  interested  in  the  matter  of  education  in  its  great, 
grand,  true  sense,  therefore  are  we  also  assembled  as 
good  citizens  of  the  Republic;  because  we  believe  most 
thoroughly  that  the  more  perfect  education  of  the  young 
in  every  true  sense  is,  the  more  perfect  will  be  the  order 
of  citizenship  in  this  great  country. 

"As  we  know  that  the  stream  coming  from  the  moun- 
tain bears  with  it  its  own  purity  and  freshness,  so  this 
great  intellectual  training  and  education  of  the  young, 
coming  from  the  first  fountain  and  the  purest  of  all 
knowledge — the  fountain  of  religion — we  believe,  must 
give  to  the  young  its  own  freshness,  its  own  holiness, 
its  own  beauty,  its  own  completion  and  finish. 

"Within  a  few  months  there  has  arisen  here  this  won- 
derful exhibition  of  man's  enterprise  and  genius.  Men 
come  from  every  clime  to  see  it,  not  only  with  pleasure, 
but  with  wonder.  And  when  we  look  around  and  see 
these  wonderful  material  things,  indicating  the  material 
progress  of  the  world  up  to  the  time  of  our  era,  we 
are  pleased,  also,  to  understand  and  to  know  that  there 
are  signs  and  proofs  of  a  higher  development  and  of  a 
nobler  work  than  that  merely  material  one,  and  that  is, 
that  during  this  great  Exposition  there  are  so  many 
proofs  given  of  the  intellectual,  the  moral  and  religious 


268       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

welfare,  and,  I  may  say,  progress  of  man.  It  is  a  great 
advantage  to  enjoy  these  improvements  of  modern 
times,  and  yet  we  know  that  men  might  be  highly  cul- 
tivated and  highly  civilized  even  without  these,  as  they 
have  been  in  the  past.  We  know  that  Plato  and  Aris- 
totle and  St.  Thomas  never  saw  a  steamer — they  knew 
nothing  of  the  great  wonders  of  electricity,  and  yet  they 
were  highly  civilized  and  cultivated. 

"Amongst  the  wonderful  things  to  be  seen  here  that 
tend  to  the  higher  things  of  man — to  the  higher  develop- 
ment and  the  higher  cultivation  and  civilization,  I  may 
mention  with  great  and  supreme  pleasure,  that  great 
exhibition  of  our  Catholic  schools,  of  the  methods  and 
the  systems  employed  throughout  this  broad  land  by  the 
Catholic  Church  in  the  education  of  the  young.  There 
could  be  no  higher  or  greater  object  lesson  than  this. 
We,  who  have  witnessed — have  diligently  examined — 
the  Catholic  exhibition  from  every  part  of  the  country, 
have  acknowledged  its  excellence.  And  whoever  earn- 
estly and  impartially  examines  even  a  little  of  this  proof 
of  the  methods  of  the  training  and  education  of  the 
Catholic  youth,  from  little  children  to  the  highest  finish 
of  our  schools  and  colleges — whoever  does  this  earnestly, 
can  never  again  say,  and  should  not  permit  it  to  be  said 
in  our  generation,  that  Catholic  schools  and  Catholic 
education  are  inferior  to  any  other  to  be  found  in  the 
whole  country. 

"Those  wonderful  works  of  this  strange  city;  those 
great  proofs  of  talent  and  genius,  that  have  formed  the 
delight  and  the  pleasure  of  all  who  have  visited  this 
great  Exposition — these  will  soon  pass  away:  in  a  few 
brief  months  there  will  be  none  of  them  here.  They 
will  all  pass  from  man's  sight,  it  is  probable,  before  the 
snows  fall  upon  the  ground  here.  But  we  know  that 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  269 

everything  that  this  great  Exposition  has  brought  for- 
ward and  developed,  and  that  it  represents,  will  not 
pass  away;  that  the  higher  things  concerning  the  wel- 
fare and  the  benefit  of  man  will  not  be  covered  up  by 
the  snows  of  winter,  and  that  they  will  not  disappear. 
There  are  many  things  connected  with  this  wonderful 
Exposition  that  will  live,  not  only  for  our  time,  but  for 
the  generations  that  are  coming  after.  And  amongst 
the  things  that  will  not  perish,  that  will  certainly  live, 
not  only  for  our  times  but  for  those  that  come  after  us, 
will  be  the  lessons  and  the  results  of  this  grand  exhibi- 
tion of  the  teachings  and  the  methods  of  Catholic  schools. 
They  will  give  a  development  to  Catholic  education. 
This  exhibition  will  give  encouragement  to  those  who 
devote  themselves  to  Catholic  education.  Catholic  edu- 
cation will  acquire  from  them  new  springs  of  wealth,  a 
new  force  and  new  development  to  increase  and  spread 
over  the  whole  land;  and  we  look  forward  to  the  time 
when  this  wonderful  system  of  education  of  our  schools 
will  be  everywhere,  and  we  know  that  the  effects  will  be 
holy,  beautiful,  beneficent;  that  it  will  make  men  wiser 
and  better  than  they  would  be  without  it;  that  it  will 
make  them  good  citizens  and  strong  and  conservative 
men;  that  its  influence  will  be  for  good  and  for  the 
highest  order — that  it  will  be  like  the  beneficent  effects 
of  those  dews  that  God  sends  to  make  the  earth  fruitful. 
"It  is  in  order  to  emphasize  the  great  work  of  the 
Catholic  exhibit,  and  to  emphasize  also,  this  great  system 
of  Catholic  teaching  and  training,  that  those  so  much 
interested  thought  well  of  having  what  they  call  'Cath- 
olic Education  Day,'  and  then  notified  distinguished 
men  and  orators,  some  of  them  from  distant  parts  of 
the  country  to  come  to  speak  to  you,  to  say  a  word  of 
encouragement  and  advice  to  all  the  people — to  all  of 

19 


270       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

us,  and  in  a  special  manner,  must  I  not  say,  to  all  those 
who  have  made  this  a  possibility  amongst  us;  and  they 
who  have  made  this  a  possibility  amongst  us  are  the 
members  of  these  great  teaching  communities  that  are 
doing  this  wonderful  work  throughout  the  land  every- 
where of  Catholic  education. 

"In  connection  with  our  interests  as  regards  this  great 
Fair,  it  will  not,  I  am  sure,  be  considered  out  of  place 
for  me,  as  representative  of  the  Catholic  interests  of 
this  great  city,  to  express  our  thanks  to  the  managers 
of  the  Exposition — to  the  gentlemen  connected  with  it 
with  whom  we  have  had  occasion  to  come  directly  in 
contact.  All  who  are  interested  in  the  great  work  of 
the  exhibit  of  Catholic  education  have  experienced,  I 
believe — I  am  sure — at  every  time,  the  greatest  kindness 
and  the  greatest  courtesy  from  the  gentlemen  connected 
not  only  with  educational  matters,  but  with  all  the  busi- 
ness of  this  wonderful  Exposition.  And,  therefore,  I 
take  the  liberty  today,  in  the  name  of  our  people  of  our 
section,  to  say  this  word  of  thanks  and  gratitude  to  all 
these  gentlemen. 

"You  will  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  eloquent  voices, 
who  will  speak  to  you  a  good  deal  better  than  I  can, 
though  they  cannot  be  more  interested  than  I  in  the 
great  cause  of  Catholic  education." 

Director  General  Davis  by  reason  of  his  many  en- 
gagements was  unable  to  be  present,  and  Dr.  Selim  H. 
Peabody,  Chief  of  the  Department  of  Liberal  Arts, 
responding  to  the  words  of  welcome,  said : 

DR.  SELIM  H.  PEABODY'S  ADDRESS 

"No  one  will  regret  more  than  I  that  the  distinguished 
gentleman  who  stands  at  the  head  of  this  Exposition  as 
the  Director-General  cannot  be  present  this  morning 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  271 

to  accept  the  thanks  which  the  Archbishop  has  so  cour- 
teously presented  to  him  and  to  his  colleagues,  and  to 
express  to  you  his  gratification  at  this  large  audience 
on  this  auspicious  day. 

"The  Exposition,  which  celebrates  the  coming  of  Co- 
lumbus over  the  water  and  the  discovery  of  this  con- 
tinent, would  not  be  complete  in  its  recognition,  in  its 
preparation,  in  any  of  its  results,  if  it  should  forget  the 
auspices  under  which  Columbus  came  to  America.  We 
remember  that,  in  1492,  the  last  of  the  Moors  passed 
away  from  Granada,  and  Spain  became  one  kingdom. 
The  last,  the  long,  contest  between  the  Cross  and  the 
Crescent  culminated  in  the  victory  of  the  Cross  in  Spain ; 
and  the  monarchs,  who  then  were  united  in  one  family, 
governing  one  kingdom,  earned  the  title,  which  they  have 
ever  since  worn,  The  Most  Catholic  Majesty  of  Spain. 

"Now,  Queen  Isabella,  when  she  sent  Columbus  across 
the  waves  that  he  might  discover  a  new  continent,  or  a 
new  way  to  an  old  one,  remembered  that  this  continent 
would  be  peopled  with  men  and  women  having  souls, 
and  she  cared  for  what  she  understood  to  be  the  welfare 
of  these  souls,  by  sending  with  Columbus  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  Catholic  Church,  which  she  loved.  I 
might  say  further,  that  no  body  of  people  counting 
themselves  Christians  has  so  fully  responded  to  that 
great  commission,  'Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  creature,'  as  this  body  represented 
before  me  today.  And  so  we  find  the  paths  of  the  mis- 
sionaries who  went  out  without  force  of  arms  behind 
them,  to  open  the  way  before  them  to  other  nations ;  we 
see  them  treading  their  course  across  these  prairies  and 
teaching  Indians  the  way  of  life.  So,  while  we  learn 
of  LaSalle,  we  remember  also  Father  Hennepin  and 
Pere  Marquette.  So,  I  say,  that  this  Exposition  could 


272       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

not  do  otherwise  than  recognize  the  force,  the  under- 
lying powers,  the  great  results  which  have  been  brought 
to  America  by  the  Catholic  teachers,  carrying  with  them 
the  Cross  and  the  symbols  of  the  Catholic  faith.  It  is 
not  necessary  for  you  to  attempt  to  make  any  specific 
ecclesiastical  exhibit  other  than  such  grand  exhibits  as 
you  bring  on  a  day  like  this,  when  you  bring  your  own 
highest  dignitaries ;  when  you  bring  those  who  represent 
your  orders  of  men  and  women;  and  when  you  bring 
representatives  of  your  people;  bring  all  those  orders 
who  reverence  your  symbols,  who  hold  your  faith — those 
are  your  exhibits. 

"But  I  should  speak  more  directly  of  the  Catholic 
Educational  Exhibit.  It  has  been  my  fortune  to  look 
after  that  in  some  directions ;  to  see  that  it  had  a  position 
and  a  suitable  one ;  and  I  have  observed  the  great  skill, 
the  wisdom,  the  patience,  the  care,  the  consideration, 
which  have  been  exhibited  by  all  of  those  who  had  charge 
of  gathering  this  Exhibit,  of  putting  it  in  place,  and  of 
keeping  it  before  this  great  American  people.  You  have 
done  admirably  in  all  these  respects.  I  think  of  the 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  fingers  and  of  minds  and 
teachers  who  have  cared  for  the  general  exhibit.  My 
friends,  I  believe  we  have  the  most  wonderful,  as  we 
have  the  most  extensive,  educational  Exhibit  which  this 
world  has  ever  seen.  I  expect  that  its  influence  upon 
all  phases  of  education  will  be  stimulating,  will  be  en- 
couraging, will  be  developing,  and  that  your  portion  of 
it  will  receive  the  rewards  which  naturally  follow  from 
the  labors  presented  in  such  an  exhibit.  We  rejoice  in 
all  its  beauty  and  in  all  its  completeness,  in  all  the  great 
excellence  that  it  exhibits.  It  will  not  be  necessary  for 
me  to  enter  into  detail  here.  Most  of  you  have  seen  it; 
others  who  have  not  seen  it  will  take  the  opportunity 


] 


THE  PBOTECTOB  OF  OUK  SCHOOLS 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  273 

today  to  look  through  it  carefully  and  see  what  it  pre- 
sents. 

"I  must  then,  Your  Grace,  thank  you,  in  the  name  of 
the  Director- General  for  the  kind  expressions  which  you 
have  stated  for  him  and  for  his  colleagues,  and  express 
my  belief  that  all  which  you  have  said  in  regard  to  this 
educational  exhibit  will  be  found  to  come  true  in  the 
fruitions  which  are  to  follow." 

CHICAGO    CATHOLIC    SCHOOL   EXHIBIT 

This  Exhibit  differed  from  others  in  having  in  its 
midst  the  statue  of  its  Archbishop.  Pictures  of  this 
treasure  of  art  have  appeared  in  so  many  places  as  to 
make  its  main  features  familiar;  still,  that  statue  must 
be  seen,  in  the  purity  of  its  marble  loveliness,  to  be 
appreciated  for  its  great  artistic  merit,  and  its  perfect 
fidelity  to  nature.  It  is  His  Grace  in  very  truth,  only 
it  lacks  his  tender  heart  and  noble  soul,  yet  the  impress 
of  both  is  visible  in  the  expression  of  the  marble  features. 
The  artist  had  admirable  success  in  catching,  without 
any  artificial  ideality,  the  spirit  of  the  double  character 
of  father  and  lord,  the  tenderness  of  the  one  and  the 
dignity  of  the  other,  supplementing,  indeed,  but  in  no 
way  effacing  each  other.  Pedestals  are  of  small  moment 
perhaps,  and  yet  the  beautiful  object  that  is  well  placed 
is  made  more  beautiful  thereby,  so  it  is  not  an  altogether 
insignificant  fact  that  beneath  the  Archbishop's  marble 
feet  was  a  support  in  perfect  taste,  and  in  admirable 
harmony  with  the  idea  of  His  Grace,  as  "Protector  of 
Our  Schools."  The  shields,  on  the  base  of  the  pedestal, 
bore  the  names  of  the  branches  taught  in  the  schools; 
the  front  and  rear  of  the  shaft  were  decorated  with  edu- 
cational emblems  of  every  variety,  from  harps  to  micro- 
scopes. The  two  school  children,  the  boy  at  the  right 


274       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAJST 

and  the  girl  at  the  left,  are  truly  typical;  he,  with  his 
eyes  bent  downward,  intent  on  the  things  of  earth,  rep- 
resented by  his  book,  on  which  he  gazes  so  earnestly; 
she,  with  her  eyes  turned  Heavenward,  her  expression 
one  of  rapt  attention  to  higher  thoughts,  has  closed  her 
book  in  order  to  reflect.  Thus,  with  hands  outstretched 
in  benediction,  stood  His  Grace  of  Chicago  in  the  midst 
of  the  educational  results  he  had  done  so  much  to  fur- 
ther. This  statue  is  a  work  of  art  and  reflects  credit 
on  the  great-hearted  priests  who  secured  it  as  the  central 
attraction  of  the  gigantic  and  exceptionally  fine  Exhibit, 
which  was  installed  and  supervised  by  Chancellor  P.  J. 
Muldoon. 

The  Chicago  space  was  divided  by  two  broad  passage 
ways,  one  of  which  ran  due  North  and  South;  the  other 
running  East  and  West,  joined  it  at  its  middle  point, 
forming  with  it  two  right  angles,  thus  affording  the  sec- 
tion three  fine  entrances  at  North,  West,  and  South 
terminals  of  the  passageways ;  the  statue  standing  at  the 
East  point,  and  surrounded  by  the  fine  open  space,  had 
the  art  work  of  the  diocesan  academies  for  a  background. 

The  entrances  were  elegantly  formed  by  a  guard  at 
each  side  consisting  of  a  tastefully  carved,  square,  oaken 
pillar;  extending  from  pillar  to  pillar  of  each  entrance 
was  a  head  piece  of  stained  glass,  framed  in  harmony 
with  the  wood  and  carving  of  the  pillars,  and  bearing 
the  inscription:  "Catholic  Educational  Exhibit  of  the 
Archdiocese  of  Chicago" ;  above  this,  in  a  circular  frame, 
and  painted  on  glass,  was  a  picture  of  Our  Blessed 
Lady,  surrounded  by  a  Latin  inscription,  making  the 
petition,  "Blessed  Lady,  pray  for  us."  From  the  top 
of  each  pillar  rose  a  tall  pole  bearing  a  banner ;  of  these 
there  were  six,  two  of  the  United  States,  one  of  Erin, 
one  of  Canada,  two  not  national.  The  last  two  were  of 


THE   WORLD'S   FAIR  275 

heavy  white  watered  silk  on  which  handsome  designs 
were  painted  with  water  colors ;  one  of  them,  a  contribu- 
tion of  the  Dominican  Nuns  at  Sinsinawa,  Wisconsin, 
presented  in  rich  colors,  and  with  artistic  taste,  a  rep- 
resentation of  the  Western  Hemisphere  and  the  Amer- 
ican Eagle,  surrounded  by  masses  of  lovely  pansies  and 
exquisite  wild  roses;  the  rich  gold  trimmings  and  the 
heavy  gold  cord  and  tassels  gave  the  proper  finish  to  the 
beautiful  artistic  work:  the  other  was  equally  rich  and 
beautiful,  but  the  contributor  was  not  named. 

The  wide  area  around  His  Grace's  statue  was  hand- 
somely carpeted,  and  was  adorned  with  portions  of  ex- 
hibits from  the  academies  of  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame, 
of  Bourbonais  Grove  and  Kankakee,  and  of  the  School 
Sisters  of  Notre  Dame  of  Longwood.  At  the  right  and 
at  the  left  of  the  statue  were  alcoves,  divided  by  low 
partitions,  and  containing  the  exhibits  of  all  the  acad- 
emies of  the  archdiocese,  also  Miss  Starr's  art  display, 
and  the  exhibit  of  the  Ephpheta  School  for  the  deaf 
and  dumb.* 

The  parochial  school  work  presented  to  public  judg- 
ment in  the  Catholic  Educational  Exhibit  had,  without 
the  exception  of  a  single  paper,  the  features  that  an 
exacting  and  experienced  teacher  would  wish  to  see  in 
such  work  and  yet  would  be  surprised  to  see  presented 
in  such  perfection.  These  features  were  neat,  correct  and 
beautiful  penmanship,  exact  and  original  expression  of 
ideas  and  facts,  orderly  methods  of  arrangement,  and 
the  manifest  reserve  power  of  a  thorough  information 
which  knows  more  than  it  tells ;  also  a  decided,  unmistak- 


*  As  the  exhibit  work  was  voluntary,  all  the  schools  of  the  arch- 
diocese did  not  participate.  The  exhibit  embraced  the  work  of  sixty 
parochial  schools,  one  college,  nine  academies,  two  houses  of  the  Good 
Shepherd,  two  orphan  asylums,  one  Ephpheta  school,  and  one  infant 
asylum. 


276       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

able  and  admirable  mingling  of  love  for  God  and  for 
country.  The  cross  and  the  flag,  religion  and  patriot- 
ism, Church  and  Country,  these  emblems,  standing  for 
these  lofty  sentiments,  were  on  every  map  and  in  every 
volume;  the  inspirations  awakened  by  them  breathed  in 
every  paragraph;  and  reverence  for  the  sacred  realities 
of  faith  and  patriotism  stamped  every  object  in  the 
Exhibit  with  the  united  characteristics  of  their  holy 
partnership. 

In  fact  every  argument  against  parochial  schools, 
every  belittling  assertion  regarding  them,  every  fault 
found  with  the  methods  pursued  in  them,  every  adverse 
criticism  of  their  relation  to  the  nation,  found  a  refuta- 
tion, a  contradiction,  a  correction  and  a  denial  in  the 
Educational  Exhibit.  In  all  truth  it  can  be  said  that 
the  Catholic  Exhibit  during  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition  was  the  greatest,  the  most  imposing  and  im- 
pressive manifestation  of  the  love  of  American  Catholics 
for  education  that  this  country  had  ever  seen. 


CHAPTER  XX 

HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND 

SPEECH  ON  MOORE — SERMON  ON  ST.  PATRICK — SPEECH  IN 
ANSWER  TO  THE  TOAST:  "THE  CATHOLIC  HIERARCHY  AND 
CLERGY  IN  IRELAND" — HIS  LOVE  FOR  THE  IRISH  SOCIETIES — 
COLONEL  FINERTY'S  COMMENT — HIS  LOVE  FOR  AMERICA — THE 
TRUE  AMERICAN — HIS  LOVE  FOR  THE  AMERICAN  FLAG. 

As  an  Irish  patriot,  Archbishop  Feehan  had  no  supe- 
rior among  the  men  of  his  race,  whether  clerical  or  lay ; 
he  loved  her  ancient  religion,  her  history,  her  language, 
her  music,  her  oratory,  and  her  song;  he  sympathized 
with  her  aspirations  and  never  hesitated  on  proper  occa- 
sions to  lift  up  his  voice  against  the  crimes  and  intrigues 
of  her  oppressor.  Who  that  heard  him  can  forget,  while 
life  lasts,  his  noble  address  as  chairman  of  the  Moore 
anniversary  celebration  held  in  Central  Music  Hall, 
when  he  placed  before  the  great  audience  the  question 
of  Irish  independence  in  language  at  once  simple  and 
sublime? 

We  take  great  pleasure  in  being  able  to  reproduce 
the  speech,  which  will  serve  to  keep  the  good  Arch- 
bishop's memory  green  in  the  hearts  of  his  kindred  peo- 
ple. 

"Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "we  are  assembled 
tonight  on  an  occasion  that  is  most  interesting.  A  year 
ago  we  met  here  to  commemorate  almost  the  centenary 
of  Moore,  the  great  Irish  poet,  and  having  had  on  that 
occasion  the  pleasure  of  saying  a  few  words  to  those 
who  were  present,  I  think  I  expressed  a  thought  that 
such  meetings  might  take  place,  at  least  occasionally, 
with  pleasure,  and  likely  with  profit  in  many  ways  to 

277 


278       THE  LIFE  OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

all  of  us.  It  was  a  very  sincere  pleasure  to  me  when 
I  learned  the  idea  was  taken  up  of  continuing  the  meet- 
ing of  last  year  by  having  a  meeting  this  year  to  continue 
also  the  memory  of  the  Irish  poet. 

"We  meet  together  tonight  with  a  view  and  a  desire 
of  originating  the  work  of  erecting  a  statue  in  some 
public  place  of  our  city  to  the  memory  of  Moore.  In 
doing  this  we  are  entirely  in  accord  with  the  feeling 
and  the  sentiment  of  men  in  every  age,  so  far  as  time 
gives  us  any  record.  All  men  and  races  have  desired 
to  commemorate  in  some  substantial  way,  so  far  as  they 
could,  the  memories  of  their  great  men — great  in  what- 
ever way  it  may  have  been,  great  soldiers,  great  orators, 
great  poets  and  the  like.  Even  in  the  ruins  of  some  of 
the  ancient  cities  of  history  explorers  in  our  day  find 
monuments  erected  ages  ago  to  the  memory  of  some 
great  man.  We  have  already,  as  you  may  have  noticed, 
in  some  of  the  parks  of  our  city  monuments  of  this  kind 
suggested  by  the  sentiment  of  the  people,  to  whom  the 
man  whom  they  represent  belonged.  We  have  the 
monument  of  the  great  German  poet,  Schiller,  and  of 
the  great  French  explorer,  La  Salle,  the  great  Scan- 
dinavian, Linnaeus,  and  others,  and  why  not  some- 
where, as  we  pass  by,  cannot  we  look  upon  some  monu- 
ment of  some  great  man  of  our  race? 

"There  have  been  in  the  history  of  Ireland  many  men 
who  were  great  in  the  various  degrees  and  ways  of 
greatness.  As  yet,  among  us  in  the  new  world,  we 
have  made  no  effort  to  commemorate  and  perpetuate 
their  memories  If  we  go  back,  even  to  the  later  cen- 
turies, how  many  and  many  a  distinguished  name  can 
we  find  to  whom  we  would  be  glad  to  build  a  monu- 
ment. But  some  one  may  say  to  me :  Why  build  monu- 
ments to  men  whose  lives  as  a  rule  were  failures?  The 


HIS  LOVE   OF   IRELAND  279 

greatest  Irishmen  for  many  generations  did  not  succeed 
in  their  efforts  for  their  cause,  notwithstanding  they 
had  great  genius,  great  talents,  great  courage,  and  great 
devotion  to  their  country.  Their  lives  went  out  in  de- 
feat, and  some  say,  why  build  a  monument  to  a  defeated 
hero? 

"Neither  you  nor  I  will,  I  am  sure,  admit  the  truth  of 
this.  Men  have  built  monuments  to  great  men  even 
though  they  did  suffer  defeat.  We  glance  back  through 
the  ages  and  were  not  those  Greeks,  who  died  at  Ther- 
mopylae in  defense  of  their  native  land,  nobler  than  the 
hosts  of  Persians  who  destroyed  them?  What  name 
more  illustrious  than  that  of  the  great  Roman  general, 
taken  captive,  defeated  in  battle,  and  brought  in  chains 
to  Carthage,  and  when  he  was  ordered  from  thence  to 
go  back  to  his  native  place,  to  Rome,  to  make  a  treaty 
of  peace  with  his  enemies?  He  went  to  discharge  this 
mission,  and  when  he  stood  among  his  fellow-country- 
men in  the  Roman  senate,  he  said:  'You  must  not 
make  the  treaty;'  and  he  went  back  to  chains  and  to 
die  in  torture,  because  he  had  promised  he  would  not, 
and  did  not,  break  his  word,  and  the  world  from  that 
time  to  this  has  honored  the  memory  of  Regulus. 

"We  read  with  great  pleasure  how  that  same  senate 
in  Rome's  splendid  day  voted  a  triumph  to  a  defeated 
general  because  he  had  not  despaired  of  his  country; 
and  so  would  we,  so  far  as  we  could — so  at  least  we 
ought — build  monuments  even  to  men  who  were  de- 
feated because  they  did  not  despair  of  their  country. 
They  were  men  who  believed  and  acted  upon  the  great 
truth,  a  truth  that  can  never  perish,  that 

Freedom's  battle  once  begun, 
Bequeathed  from  bleeding  sire  to  son, 
Though  baffled  oft,  is  never  won. 


280       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAJSf 

"When  we  reason  thus  and  desire  to  erect  monuments 
to  the  great  of  our  history  and  our  race,  and  when  we 
show  our  patriotism,  our  love  of  country  in  this  man- 
ner, let  no  one  say,  as  none  can  say  with  truth,  that  be- 
cause we  are  devoted  in  this  manner  to  the  land  of  the 
forefathers  of  many  who  are  here,  that  we  are  therefore 
less  loyal  to  the  country  of  our  adoption,  for  this  would 
not  be  true;  for  the  man  who  is  most  devoted  to  the 
country  of  his  birth,  or  of  his  forefathers,  is  the  man 
who  would  be  most  devoted  to  the  country  of  his  adop- 
tion. 

"If  we  can  imagine  for  a  moment  some  man,  who  has 
in  his  heart  no  love  for  his  native  land,  a  man  who  does 
not  love  in  his  very  soul  the  place  where  he  was  born, 
the  home  of  his  forefathers,  of  his  kindred,  of  his  race, 
he  is  a  selfish  as  he  is  a  heartless  and  soulless  man.  He  is 
a  man  whom  men  would  not  respect  nor  honor,  but  dis- 
like ;  he  is  such  as  the  Scottish  bard  describes  as  one  who 
'goes  down  to  the  vile  dust  from  which  he  sprung,  un- 
wept, unhonored,  and  unsung.' 

"We  desire  then  to  honor  the  memory  of  a  great  man ; 
a  man  who  was  great  by  reason  of  his  gifts  and  of  his 
genius ;  for  no  one  can  question  the  genius  of  Moore,  the 
Irish  poet;  and  the  greatest  and  most  capable  have 
placed  him  as  a  living  force  among  the  great,  not  only 
of  our  time  and  all  times,  but  among  the  greatest  lyric 
poets  of  all  nations.  When  I  said  a  few  words  a  year 
ago,  I  think  I  expressed  the  wish  that  Moore's  melodies 
would  be  cultivated;  that  the  young  who  learn  music 
would  be  taught  to  sing  those  beautiful  Irish  airs  to 
which  Moore's  melodies  have  been  adapted.  It  is  not, 
I  think,  generally  so ;  and  if  we  try  to  find  a  reason  why 
we  love  the  music  of  France,  of  Germany,  of  Italy,  and 
justly  so — magnificent  music — why  not  love  the  music 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND  281 

of  Ireland?  We  may,  perhaps,  find  a  reason  in  this: 
that  Ireland  for  many  generations  has  not  been  great 
and  prosperous  as  other  nations,  and  unfortunately,  it 
is  human  nature  to  bow  down  before  and  to  worship 
material  greatness  and  success,  and  men  do  not  realize 
that  something  which  is  infinitely  higher  than  material 
greatness — that  greatness  of  spirit  and  of  soul,  like  the 
soul  of  Ireland,  which  has  never  lost  its  faith,  and  never 
yielded  up  its  spirit  and  its  desire  for  independence. 

"And  there  may  be,  perhaps,  another  reason.  There 
may  be  some  who  are  influenced  by  the  English  tradi- 
tion regarding  Ireland.  This  tradition  is  a  false  one. 
It  would  decry  and  make  little  of  everything  that  is 
Ireland's,  and  some  perhaps  may  be  weak  enough  to 
yield  to  this  base  tradition. 

"We  know  very  well  that  when  England,  being 
stronger  than  Ireland  was,  destroyed  her  temples  and 
her  monuments,  she  also  robbed  her  of  her  jewels,  and 
then  placed  upon  her  shoulders  a  robe  of  mockery,  and 
attempted  to  point  her  out  to  the  derision  of  the  nations, 
and  said:  'See  how  poor  she  is  now,  and  how  ignorant 
her  people  are' — when  she  had  made  them  so.  This 
tradition,  which  has  been  a  false  one  for  three  hundred 
years,  we,  in  our  day,  should  not  yield  to,  and  the  time 
ought  to  come  when  all  should  know  better  and  should 
resist  it  honorably  in  every  way  they  can. 

"We  all  believe,  as  we  hope,  that  the  long,  cruel  night 
of  darkness  and  oppression  has  passed  away  from  Ire- 
land. We  hope  that  we  will  behold  the  dawn  of  a  day 
that  \vill  be  a  bright  one,  and,  in  the  fulness  of  that  day, 
when  it  comes,  may  we  not  wish,  as  I  trust  the  Irish 
people  will  strive,  to  inscribe  the  tombs  and  to  build  the 
monuments  of  their  great  men,  and  that  in  that  day 
Moore's  melodies  may  be  sung  with  pride  all  over  the 
earth  in  the  homes  of  our  music-loving  people." 


282       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

However,  Archbishop  Feehan  manifested  his  great 
love  for  Ireland  not  only  in  words  but  also  in  deeds. 
We  already  referred  to  his  activity  at  the  Council  of 
Baltimore  in  behalf  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians 
and  may  also  call  the  reader's  attention  once  more  to 
the  memorable  speech  delivered  by  the  Hon.  Henry 
F.  Sheridan,  at  the  time  of  the  Archbishop's  return  from 
Rome.  Archbishop  Feehan  was  always  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  and  was  its 
National  Chaplain  for  many  years. 

The  only  manuscripts,  aside  from  his  official  papers, 
that  were  found  among  the  Archbishop's  belongings 
after  his  death,  was  a  sermon  on  St.  Patrick,  and  some 
notes  for  a  patriotic  speech  on  Ireland.  The  sermon 
was  first  delivered  on  St.  Patrick's  day,  1862,  and  had 
apparently  been  used  since  many  a  time  with  various 
modifications.  The  text  is:  "Ecce  Sacerdos  magnus" 
.  .  .  etc.  The  sermon: 

"These  words  read  in  the  liturgy  of  the  Church — 
these  solemn  ceremonies — the  numbers  congregated  here 
— proclaim  that  we  celebrate  no  ordinary  festival — but 
it  is  one  that  to  you  needs  no  explanation.  The  festival 
we  celebrate  is  to  honor  St.  Patrick,  the  apostle,  the 
patron  of  Ireland.  It  is  one  that  enkindles  all  our 
faith;  that  brings  before  our  minds  the  memories  of  other 
days,  the  brightest  images,  the  fairest  associations  of  the 
past;  one  that  brings  us  back  to  other  times  and  other 
scenes  in  a  far-off  land,  where  today  upon  ten  thousand 
altars  the  name  of  'Patrick'  is  pronounced  with  rever- 
ence; where  with  the  music  of  ten  thousand  choirs  the 
fervent  prayers  of  millions  ascend  to  heaven  to  our  King, 
God,  Who  sent  the  great  apostle  and  sealed  the  covenant 
with  their  fathers  and  made  them  sharers  in  His  bene- 
diction. No  other  festival  is  so  universally  celebrated, 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND  283 

no  other  evokes  so  much  enthusiasm.  Because  no  other 
people  has  been  scattered  through  the  world  as  the 
Irish,  no  other  has  so  singular  and  eventful  a  history. 

"Ireland  is  small  compared  with  other  countries ;  it  is 
but  a  speck  on  the  surface  of  the  globe,  yet  it  has  a 
history  of  many  centuries  and  one  that  is  an  object  not 
only  of  curious  research  but  of  interest  to  most  other 
nations  of  the  world.  Today  her  children  are  congre- 
gated in  every  portion  of  the  globe;  they  are  found  by 
the  Ganges  as  by  the  Mississippi.  Today  they  search 
for  the  shamrock  under  polar  snows  and  the  sands  of  the 
Equator.  Some  are  honored,  ennobled  in  the  courts  of 
the  Old  World;  some  occupy  places  in  the  councils  of 
the  New  World.  Some  are  watching  beside  the  camp 
fires,  perhaps  dreaming  how  they  will  achieve  a  future 
for  Ireland.  But  from  every  point  within  this  wide  cir- 
cumference their  hearts  today  turn  as  to  their  center,  to 
the  emerald  isle  of  the  ocean,  their  beautiful,  but  perse- 
cuted mother. 

"Love  of  country  is  one  of  the  noblest  emotions  of  the 
human  soul.  And  why  should  we  not  love  Ireland? 
They  sometimes  tell  us  that  she  has  no  history,  nothing 
in  which  we  can  glory,  nothing  to  justify  this  enthu- 
siastic devotion  of  her  children.  But  I  need  not  tell  you 
how  false  are  these  assertions. 

"Our  Island  was  civilized  and  had  a  history  and  a  glory 
centuries  before  most  modern  nations  had  an  existence, 
and  of  this,  no  matter  what  may  be  said  to  the  contrary, 
there  is  more  than  sufficient  evidence.  The  spoiler  in- 
deed was  stronger  than  we  were  and  robbed  us  of  almost 
all  the  records  of  our  glory  and  when  we  would  speak 
of  the  actions  of  our  forefathers,  attempted  to  decry 
us  as  impostors.  But  they  could  not  destroy  all;  for 
though  the  parchment  should  be  shriveled  to  ashes  in  the 


284       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

flames,  though  the  sceptre  should  be  stricken  from  the 
Monarch's  hands  and  the  crown  torn  from  his  dishev- 
eled head,  still  the  memory  of  facts  will  live  and  the 
traditions  of  a  people  are  indestructible ;  and  the  names 
of  places  and  of  families,  the  hills,  the  cliffs,  the  valleys 
of  Ireland  strengthen  this  memory,  confirm  this  tradi- 
tion: 'that  our  forefathers  came  from  the  East,  from 
Phenicia,  through  Spain  more  than  three  thousand  years 
ago,  not  long  after  Moses  brought  the  Israelites  out  of 
Egypt,  about  the  time  that  Cadmus  introduced  letters 
into  Greece ;  that  they  had  a  written  language  and  laws 
and  civilization.' 

"It  was  long  before  the  Roman  ruled  the  world,  before 
Greece  became  the  seat  of  science  and  of  learning,  be- 
fore the  hunter  of  Northern  Asia  directed  his  course  to 
the  West ;  when  Siberia  was  still  shrouded  in  untrodden 
snow,  when  neither  Russian  nor  Moscovite  was  known; 
centuries  before  the  swarms  of  Asia  emerging  from  their 
hills  and  plains,  traversing  a  pathless  forest  and  a 
mighty  waste,  found  themselves  some  in  Scandinavia 
and  some  further  South,  where  their  descendants  under 
the  name  of  Saxons  afterward  held  their  sway.  All 
these  were  different  from  our  fathers.  Their  gods  were 
not  the  gods  of  Erin ;  their  language  was  not  the  same, 
nor  were  their  manners  and  customs. 

"The  worship  of  Ireland,  the  pagan,  was  compara- 
tively pure.  It  was  the  fire  worship  of  the  Phenician. 
She  had  a  regular  government,  a  monarch,  a  legislative 
assembly  and  written  laws ;  and  it  was  a  singular  feature 
of  these  laws  that  not  one  of  them  decreed  punishment 
of  death ;  the  offender  was  punished  by  a  fine  in  propor- 
tion to  his  offense.  And  this  tenderness  for  human  life 
evidently,  was  not  a  characteristic  of  a  barbarous  peo- 
ple. 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND  285 

"I  would  wish  to  dwell  upon  the  history  of  our  fore- 
fathers, upon  the  civilization  of  ancient  Ireland,  if  time 
permitted  and  this  were  the  proper  place.  But  there  is 
one  great  fact,  peculiar  to  our  nation,  which  I  cannot 
leave  unmentioned.  All  other  nations,  whether  civilized 
or  barbarous,  persecuted  the  first  apostles  of  Christian- 
ity amongst  them.  They  who  preached  the  faith,  gen- 
erally did  so  at  the  sacrifice  of  their  lives.  The  seed  was 
to  be  watered  by  the  tears  of  the  sower,  and  the  germ 
was  nurtured  with  his  blood  before  the  plant  could 
flourish.  But  to  this,  Ireland  is  a  splendid  and  solitary 
exception.  Her  soil  would  seem  to  have  been  already 
prepared  for  the  seed;  the  island  of  shamrocks  bloomed 
in  the  verdure  of  cultivation,  the  venom  of  religious 
hatred  and  persecution  did  not  exist  there. 

"Like  the  other  nations  she  was  still  in  darkness,  yet 
she  had  the  twinkling  of  science  to  adorn  her  firmament, 
and  her  mild  mythology  would  seem  to  have  caught  some 
rays  from  the  sun  of  justice,  which  it  reflected,  though 
imperfectly,  on  her  children.  The  day  star  beamed  upon 
them  and  they  began  to  behold  the  light  approaching 
from  the  East.  It  may  be  that  the  mists  of  the  ocean 
served  to  refract  and  mellow  the  glories  of  the  rising 
sun  and  that  having  been  long  accustomed  to  a  little 
light  they  were  better  prepared  to  endure  and  to  exam- 
ine that  brilliant  orb  which  now  rose  above  their  horizon 
in  the  gorgeous  majesty  of  truth.  Whatever  may  have 
been  the  cause,  the  fact  is  certain:  Ireland  did  not  slay 
her  apostles.  It  was  reserved  for  that  nation  which  was 
barbarous  when  she  was  civilized,  for  England,  to  give 
a  martyrology  to  Ireland.  So  it  was  in  Erin  1,400 
years  ago;  but  she  is  about  to  witness  a  change,  to  as- 
sume new  robes  of  loveliness,  to  become  the  very  center 
of  truth  and  science. 


20 


286       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"A  captive  youth  is  guarding  flocks  upon  the  hills  of 
Ulster,  far  from  his  own  bright  home  in  the  sunny  land 
of  Gaul,  for  this  was  most  probably  his  birthplace.  In 
the  solitude  of  the  mountains,  in  the  caverns  of  the  for- 
ests, in  summer's  heat,  amid  the  winter's  snow,  in  the 
sunshine  or  the  storm  he  keeps  anxious  and  faithful 
watch,  and  yet  he  finds  leisure  for  holier  watches  and 
holier  vigils  and  if  he  sighs  for  his  deliverance,  he  prays, 
oh  I  how  fervently,  for  the  liberation  of  his  masters.  His 
captivity  ends  at  length,  he  has  been  restored  to  home 
and  to  kindred ;  and  when  we  next  behold  him,  the  scene 
is  changed  indeed.  It  bursts  upon  us  like  the  dream 
of  the  imagination,  or  like  the  vision  of  sleeping  Israel, 
or  like  the  light  of  God  flashing  upon  the  eyes  of  Saul, 
when  'the  lion  was  changed  into  a  lamb.' 

"Ah!  who  is  he  that  stands  upon  the  hill  of  Tara  so 
venerable  and  with  looks  of  majesty — amid  the  as- 
sembled great  ones  of  the  nation  where  once  he  had 
been  a  slave — the  shepherd's  crook  is  transformed  into 
a  crozier — the  guardian  of  the  flock  of  Milcho  is  be- 
come the  shepherd  of  the  fold  of  Christ! 

"It  is  Patrick  the  captive,  now  a  Bishop  and  Apostle. 

"Years  have  passed,  but  they  were  years  of  study,  of 
toil,  of  labor.  Patrick  never  forgot  the  scene  of  his  suf- 
ferings, the  vision  of  his  earlier  days ;  and  he  heard  'the 
children  of  Erin  from  their  mother's  wombs  calling  on 
him  to  come  and  deliver  them.'  He  did  not  go  forth 
unauthorized;  his  mission  was  from  Him  Who  com- 
manded the  fishermen  of  Galilee  to  preach  His  Gospel 
to  every  creature.  The  same  God  had  whispered  to  the 
soul  of  Patrick:  'Go  and  preach  My  faith  to  this  na- 
tion, to  this  people  of  My  choice  and  I  will  be  with  you 
and  them  to  the  end.' 

"And  at  Rome,  the  city  of  martyrs,  where  Peter  was 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND  287 

crucified,  at  Rome,  the  center  of  Catholic  unity,  Patrick 
appeals  to  Celestine,  the  successor  of  Peter,  the  Father 
of  the  faithful,  the  Vicar  of  Christ  and  Visible  Head  of 
His  Church  on  earth,  and  from  him  he  receives  his 
mission  for  the  conversion  of  Ireland.  So  ancient  is  our 
connection  with  Rome,  and  from  that  day  to  this  it  has 
never  been  severed.  So  with  a  power  greater  than  Elias, 
bearing  a  commission  more  glorious  than  that  of  Moses, 
inspired  with  a  wisdom  and  an  eloquence  more  capti- 
vating than  the  strains  of  the  prophet  king,  he  comes, 
an  Apostle,  to  awaken  a  nation  to  a  new  life. 

"Need  I  mention  details  with  which  you  are  all  so 
familiar;  need  I  tell  you  of  the  Easter  even  when  he 
kindled  the  sacred  fire,  emblem  of  a  diviner  light  which 
the  blood  of  centuries  could  not  extinguish;  need  I 
tell  you  of  Tara,  its  Monarchs,  its  Druids,  etc. ;  of  the 
multitudes  who  listened;  how  with  words  more  sweet 
than  the  murmuring  waters  of  their  own  fountains  he 
persuaded,  convinced  them;  how  the  druid  worship  dis- 
appeared before  the  Cross  and  temples  to  the  living  God 
rose  up  as  by  enchantment?  Patrick  has  made  the  soli- 
tude to  flourish;  he  made  a  garden  of  the  wilderness; 
he  transferred  the  glory  of  Libanus  and  Carmel  to  the 
Irish  vales,  where  religion  and  virtue  found  a  sanc- 
tuary and  a  home ;  he  made  Erin  the  garden  of  the  uni- 
verse, the  Spouse  of  Christ,  he  made  her  shine  as  a  light 
among  the  nations. 

"A  noble  race  became  his  children  and  the  truths  of 
faith  were  implanted  deeply;  and  with  prophetic  vision, 
perhaps,  he  foresaw  that  neither  length  of  nor  strength 
of  temptation,  nor  might  of  persecution  could  ever  de- 
stroy or  weaken  that  faith,  but  that  it  would  go  down 
unsullied  through  the  generations,  guarded  by  courage, 
constancy  and  magnanimity. 


288       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"Oh!  land  of  my  fathers,  how  beauteous  were  your 
hills,  how  lovely  were  your  valleys,  how  pure  were  your 
streams  in  that  day  before  the  eye  of  Heaven.  The 
hand  of  the  spoiler  did  not  desolate  your  fields ;  the  foot 
of  the  stranger  (Saxon  and  Norman)  was  not  upon  the 
necks  of  your  children;  the  sword  of  the  persecutor  did 
not  stain  your  temples  with  blood,  but  flourishing  in 
beauty,  lovely  in  peace,  decorated  with  virtue,  you  were 
the  gem  of  the  ocean,  the  sanctuary  of  truth,  the  orna- 
ment of  the  Church  of  God. 

"Oh !  it  was  a  bright  and  brilliant  chapter  in  a  nation's 
history,  and  would  that  I  might  close  the  narrative  here, 
— for  scenes  of  aftertimes  rise  before  the  vision,  scenes 
from  which  the  mind  recoils;  the  land  is  convulsed,  the 
horizon  is  darkened,  the  storm  gathering  in  the  distance 
then  bursting  with  terrific  fury  and  the  sun  of  Erin's 
glory  seems  setting  in  a  sea  of  blood. 

"The  Dane  came  there,  the  pirate  sea-king  from  the 
North.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  storm,  but  its 
violence  was  checked  for  a  while.  You  have  read  of 
the  Good  Friday  when  the  Danes,  flushed  with  success, 
met  the  Irish  on  the  plains  of  Clontarf .  The  Irish  were 
victorious,  the  Danish  power  was  broken  forever,  but 
the  strings  of  the  harp  gave  only  the  note  of  lamenta- 
tion and  the  green  flag  floated  in  the  imperfect  triumph 
of  a  joyless  victory.  The  grand  old  Monarch,  Brian 
Boru,  had  been  slain  as  he  knelt  before  the  crucifix, 
thanking  God  for  the  triumph  of  his  people. 

"And  then  came  a  later  time  and  a  fiercer  storm  and 
a  more  unrelenting  enemy  than  the  Dane;  there  came 
the  stranger  from  a  hostile  land  with  tyrant  rule  and 
savage  laws  and  the  fanaticism  of  a  hostile  creed.  And 
this  was  no  passing  blast,  no  gale  destroying  for  the 
moment;  it  was  the  hurricane  of  centuries  that  swept 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND  289 

the  land,  and  old  men  fell  and  young  men  in  the  pride 
of  manhood,  and  there  were  virgin  martyrs  and  the 
fight  was  lost  or  won;  and  the  cloister  was  in  ruins  and 
the  sanctuary  was  desecrated  and  the  faithful  people 
had  no  temple  for  their  God,  but  under  the  broad  canopy 
of  heaven  the  rude  stone  was  the  altar  on  which  the 
Spotless  Lamb  was  offered.  And  the  children  of  Ire- 
land were  hunted  as  wild  beasts  and  their  bodies  fed  the 
vultures;  and  their  bones  whitened,  shroudless  and  cof- 
finless  in  the  hills,  and  they  were  cast  into  the  gloomy 
prisons  and  fetid  dungeons  and  perished  amid  the  rocks 
and  caves  and  caverns,  until  the  liberties  of  Ireland  were 
destroyed  and  her  children  reduced  to  slavery. 

"She  was  seated  in  the  dust,  her  glory  tarnished,  her 
face  bedewed  with  tears;  the  testimonies  of  her  great- 
ness were  torn  away  and  destroyed.  She  was  sprinkled 
with  obloquy  and  strangers  were  brought  to  laugh  at 
her  woe,  to  mock  at  her  affliction.  Her  proud  neighbor 
plundered  her  of  her  jewels,  then  flung  the  garb  of  folly 
on  her  shoulders  and  pointed  her  out  to  the  derision 
of  the  world.  Yet,  there  is  no  stain  upon  the  fair  brow 
of  Ireland;  in  the  unequal  and  unparalleled  struggle 
of  seven  hundred  years  she  has  never  yielded;  she  has 
saved  her  honor;  she  has  preserved  her  national  virtue 
and  the  lamp  of  faith  burns  there  as  bright  today  as  it 
did  when  Patrick  and  Bridget  and  Columba  were  its 
guardians. 

"Oh !  surely  Ireland  has  a  history.  She  has  much  in 
which  we  can  glory,  she  has  enough  to  explain  the  en- 
thusiastic devotion  of  her  children.  And  we,  though  at 
a  distance,  should  not  be  cheated  out  of  our  recollec- 
tions; today  at  least  we  can  recall  the  memories  of  our 
native  land.  We  can  hear  the  sound  of  our  fathers' 
voices  from  their  Irish  graves  and  though  that  sound 


290       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

be  but  an  echo  that  we  gather  from  the  ruins  of  the 
tomb,  still  we  love  to  hear  it  and  it  reaches  to  our  souls 
and  enkindles  in  them  a  love  for  Ireland  and  a  devotion 
to  her  traditions  and  her  faith.  And  hence,  this  day 
should  be  for  us  not  only  a  national,  but  also  a  religious 
festival.  And  before  you  leave  the  temple,  will  you 
not  pray  to  the  God  of  your  fathers,  that  you  in  your 
day  may  be  worthy  of  those  who  are  gone  before  you? 
Oh !  I  trust  in  God,  there  are  no  recreant  Irish  here ! 

"Pray  not  alone  for  yourselves,  pray  for  your  children 
who  will  take  your  places,  that  they  too  may  be  worthy 
of  their  race;  that  they  may  never  blush  for  Ireland; 
that  Ireland  may  never  have  cause  to  blush  for  them. 
Oh!  wherever  they  may  be,  may  they  so  uphold  the 
honor  of  the  old  land,  that  she  might  clasp  them  to  her 
bosom  and  with  pride  claim  them  as  the  children  of  her 
children." 

We  also  have  at  our  disposal  in  the  Archbishop's  own 
writing  some  notes  of  a  patriotic  speech  delivered  by 
His  Grace,  we  know  not  on  what  occasion. 

"Gentlemen : — I  rise  with  more  than  ordinary  feelings 
of  pride  and  pleasure  to  respond  to  the  toast  you  have 
just  pledged.  I  feel  proud  and  pleased  because  of  those 
whom  I  see  around  me  here;  because  of  the  manner  in 
which  you  honor  the  day  we  celebrate ;  because  you  pro- 
claim your  devotion  to  the  country  and  faith  of  your 
fathers,  when  you  honor  those  who  have  been  the  noblest 
defenders  of  both. 

"When  you  mention  the  Catholic  Hierarchy  and 
Clergy  of  Ireland,  what  a  crowd  of  memories  rise  and 
circle  round  the  soul.  It  brings  me  back  to  the  time 
when  I  felt  the  breezes  of  the  hills  and  inhaled  the 
fragrance  of  the  valleys  of  my  native  land;  to  the  time 
when  I  listened  with  awe,  yet  reverence  to  the  teachings 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELAND  291 

of  venerable  men ;  to  the  years  spent  beneath  the  shadows 
of  the  ruined  castle  of  the  Geraldines,  the  great  school 
of  modern  Ireland. 

"It  brings  before  me  the  vicissitudes  of  Ireland's  his- 
tory, her  glories,  her  triumphs  and  her  sufferings  from 
the  hour  that  St.  Patrick  kindled  the  sacred  fire  near 
the  hill  of  Tara  to  the  present.  I  think  of  the  time  when 
she  was  shrouded  with  the  drapery  of  death,  yet  want- 
ing but  the  living  voice  that  could  impart  the  quicken- 
ing spirit.  The  voice  spoke,  and  I  behold  the  bonds 
loosed,  the  winding  sheet  cast  aside,  and  the  nation  ris- 
ing from  the  grave  in  all  the  glory  of  her  resurrection 
and  appearing  in  her  new  light,  beautiful  almost  as 
paradise  on  the  morning  of  creation. 

"Ah!  that  time  was  she  truly  the  fairest  gem  of  the 
ocean,  the  brightest  ornament  of  the  Church,  when  her 
illustrious  children — the  Hierarchy  and  Clergy  of  those 
early  days — were  the  princes  of  civilization,  the  sages, 
the  legislators,  the  apostles  of  Europe. 

"Here  I  need  not  mention  their  names,  I  need  not  re- 
late their  history.  Christianity  bears  testimony  to  the 
facts;  their  names  are  in  the  book  of  life;  their  deeds 
are  written  in  the  archives  of  Heaven.  It  was  a  grand, 
a  glorious  chapter  in  the  nation's  history.  But  the  fair 
vision  of  those  early  days  fades  before  the  dark  picture 
of  those  that  succeeded,  which  exhibits  the  land  con- 
vulsed, the  storm  gathering,  then  bursting  in  its  fury, 
and  the  sun  of  Erin's  glory  setting  in  seas  of  blood. 
Of  the  tree  of  knowledge  there  remains  but  the  shat- 
tered trunk;  the  branches  and  leaves  are  torn  off  and 
scattered.  The  bark  of  faith  is  laboring  in  the  billows ; 
its  sails  are  crimsoned,  its  masts  are  shattered,  it  seems 
to  sink  into  the  flood.  But  no,  it  rises  over  each  coming 
wave  and  the  sacred  standard  is  still  visible;  the  sacred 
treasure  does  not  perish. 


292        THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

"And  it  was  no  passing  blast,  no  gale  destroying  for 
the  moment ;  it  was  the  hurricane  of  centuries  that  swept 
the  land,  and  brave  men  feared,  not  indeed  for  life  for 
they  gave  it  freely  in  the  struggle,  but  for  that  which 
was  dearer  to  them,  for  the  faith  of  St.  Patrick,  for  the 
birthright  of  their  fathers.  The  old  men  fell  and  the 
young  men  in  the  pride  of  manhood,  and  there  were 
virgin  martyrs,  for  the  cloister  was  invaded  and  the 
sanctuary  was  desecrated.  The  bloodhounds  traced  the 
victims  to  the  wilds  of  the  desert,  to  the  caverns  of  the 
mountains.  OhJ  this  is  a  bloody  picture,  yet  one  of  the 
grandest  in  the  book  of  time.  The  people  yielded  not, 
they  did  not  sacrifice  their  birthright,  they  did  not 
abandon  their  holy  faith.  For  them  there  was  no  death 
more  glorious  than  to  be  buried  beneath  the  ruins  of 
the  altars  of  religion.  At  home  they  were  faithful  until 
death  and  to  other  lands  they  bore  the  sublime  motto: 
'Semper  et  ubique  fideles.' 

"Honor  to  the  heroes  who  preserved  untarnished  the 
glory  of  the  sacred  Isle.  Honor  to  the  Catholic  Hier- 
archy and  Clergy  of  those  stern  times.  Nobly  did  they 
discharge  their  duty;  nobly  were  they  sharers  in  all  the 
perils  and  sufferings  of  their  people.  In  the  forests, 
in  the  caverns,  in  the  battle  strife,  in  exile  or  flood,  the 
Irish  priest  was  with  his  people.  He  blessed  the  ban- 
ner of  the  patriot,  whether  in  his  native  land  or  there 
on  the  red  fields  of  Europe,  he  avenged  the  wrongs  of 
ages  on  the  oppressors  of  his  race  and  faith. 

"The  storm  is  passed,  the  scene  is  changed  again.  The 
tree  of  knowledge,  of  science,  blooms  as  in  the  olden 
times ;  the  branches  may  have  been  cut  away,  but  others 
strong  and  fresh  have  grown  from  the  aged  stem.  The 
rivulets  were  dried  up  for  a  time,  but  the  source  of  the 
fountain  was  not  dried.  The  rays  may  have  been  dimmed 


HIS  LOVE  OF  IRELA1ND  293 

but  the  lamp  of  faith  still  burns  with  as  pure  a 
luster,  as  when  St.  Patrick  and  Columba  and  St.  Brid- 
get were  its  guardians.  Yes,  even  though  clothed  in 
suffering  and  poverty,  the  faith  of  Ireland  was  dearest 
to  her  children,  and  fairer  to  their  eyes  than  the  bright- 
est diadem  that  ever  glittered  in  imperial  coronet.  And 
well  might  it  be  so,  as  it  shed  a  luster  over  her  great- 
ness, it  encouraged  her  in  her  struggle,  it  even  cheered 
her  when  she  fell.  And  today  it  beams  over  the  land, 
the  Cross  glitters  from  the  lofty  spires,  the  people  as- 
semble again  in  noble  temples  to  adore  the  God  of  their 
fathers. 

"We  ourselves  have  witnessed  the  second  resurrection 
of  Ireland.  We  can  bear  testimony  to  the  noble  efforts 
made  in  modern  times  to  revive  the  ancient  glories  of 
the  land,  to  build  up  the  ruins  of  a  thousand  years. 

"Honor  to  the  men  who  have  been  the  great  agents 
in  this  mighty  work.  Honor  to  the  Hierarchy  and 
Clergy  of  Ireland! 

"The  Irish  priest  has  watched  over  the  faith  of  Ire- 
land. He  has  been  its  faithful  minister  at  the  peril 
often  of  the  sacrifice  of  his  life.  He  has  done  more. 
He  has  written  the  record  of  his  country's  glories  and 
of  her  wrongs.  His  hands  have  touched  the  lyre  and 
swept  the  harp  strings.  He  has  tuned  the  feelings  in 
his  soul  to  music  soft  as  the  murmurs  of  Erin's  foun- 
tain, or  wild  as  the  war-cry  of  her  clans  in  battle.  He 
has  taught  the  people  the  undying  principles  of  relig- 
ion, of  liberty.  He  has  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  in- 
jured poor  in  the  face  of  the  oppressor.  He  has  never 
been  afraid  of  the  frown  of  the  tyrant. 

"He  may  have  studied  in  the  greatest  schools,  he  may 
have  filled  the  highest  places  in  the  Academies,  his  brow 
may  be  encircled  with  laurels,  he  may  have  won  the 


294       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

highest  triumph,  those  of  the  superior  mind,  but  there 
is  no  pride  of  caste,  no  pride  of  intellect,  no  assumption 
of  superiority.  He  enters  the  cabins  of  the  poor,  he 
consoles,  he  encourages  them.  He  understands  them. 
He  can  enter  into  their  feelings.  He  can  sympathize 
with  them  in  the  day  of  distress,  in  sickness;  in  the 
fever-shed,  where  the  atmosphere  is  pestiferous,  he  is 
present  even  though  he  feels  that  he  enhales  the  poison. 
He  is  not  afraid.  He  does  not  imagine  that  he  is  per- 
forming an  heroic  act ;  it  seems  to  him  an  ordinary  duty. 

"Oh!  how  few  except  those  that  have  seen  or  exper- 
ienced it,  can  appreciate  that  sublime  sentiment  of  the 
beautiful  song  in  which  the  peasant  speaks  of  his  priest : 
'Who  in  the  winter  night  .  .  .'  etc. 

"But  if  he  is  the  consoler  of  their  sorrows,  he  is  also 
the  sharer  of  their  joys.  At  the  marriage  feast,  at  the 
christening,  his  presence  is  the  signal  of  peace,  of  joy; 
in  a  word,  in  every  place,  at  every  time,  in  every  cir- 
cumstance, that  feeling  comes  gushing  from  the  rich 
depths  of  the  Irish  heart.  He  is  ever  and  always  'the 
Soggarth  aroon.' 

"Long,  long  may  it  continue  so;  long  may  the  people 
of  Ireland  repay  a  faithful  priesthood  with  so  devoted 
an  attachment.  Long  may  that  priesthood  watch  so 
disinterestedly  over  the  faithful  people." 

Another  proof  of  the  Archbishop's  love  for  Ireland 
may  be  deduced  from  the  action  of  the  United  Irish 
Societies  and  the  words  of  their  spokesman,  Colonel 
Finerty.  When  the  executive  committee  of  the  United 
Irish  Societies  met  on  the  night  of  July  12,  1902,  to 
make  arrangements  for  their  annual  demonstration  on 
August  15th,  the  meeting  adjourned  on  learning  of  the 
death  of  Archbishop  Feehan.  Colonel  John  F.  Finerty, 
who  made  the  announcement,  eulogized  the  dead  prelate 


HIS  LOVE  OF  AMERICA  295 

in  eloquent  words.     He  said  that  Archbishop  Feehan 
had  always  proved  himself  a  sincere  lover  of  Ireland. 

"His  heart  and  purse  were  always  at  the  service  of 
the  land  that  cradled  him.  While  he  was  known  and 
respected  generally  as  a  distinguished  Churchman  and 
conspicuous  for  his  learning  and  piety,  those  engaged 
in  active  work  for  the  cause  of  Ireland  had  a  close 
acquaintance  with  him  and  always  knew  him  as  a  man 
whose  devotion  to  the  old  land  had  never  faltered.  His 
last  public  utterance,  perhaps,  was  a  letter  in  which  he 
gave  his  encouragement  and  benediction  to  the  United 
Irish  League." 

HIS  LOVE  OF  AMERICA 

However,  the  intense  affection  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
han for  his  native  land  did  not  in  any  way  interfere 
with  his  devoted  patriotism  for  the  land  of  his  adoption. 
He  was  fond  of  repeating  this  sentence:  "The  love  of 
the  son  for  his  mother  does  not  preclude  his  love  for 
his  wife.  On  the  contrary,  if  he  is  a  good  son,  he  will 
also  be  a  good  husband."  He  knew  Ireland,  with  its 
trials  and  the  unjust  restrictions  by  the  British  Gov- 
ernment, and  consequently  rejoiced  in  the  freedom  of 
man  and  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States.  Unfor- 
tunately with  the  exception  of  the  frequent  references 
in  speeches  and  sermons  from  which  we  have  quoted, 
there  are  no  written  records  that  preserve  his  public 
utterances  in  this  regard.  If  it  is  true  that  he  is  the 
best  citizen  who  fashions  others  in  such  a  manner  that 
their  lives  will  give  vitality  and  stability  to  the  govern- 
ment, then  surely  Archbishop  Feehan  must  be  ranked 
high  among  the  most  loyal  subjects  of  the  Republic. 
His  whole  life  was  spent  in  making  men  realize  that 
in  all  their  actions  they  are  responsible  to  God.  This 


296       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

especially  in  a  Republic  is  the  foundation  of  all  else 
as  far  as  the  morality  of  citizens  is  concerned.  Fre- 
quently he  said: 

"Our  non-Catholic  brethren  do  not  understand  our 
system  of  education  or  our  desire  to  form  a  clear  and 
correct  conscience  in  the  hearts  of  our  people.  If  the 
conscience  is  correctly  formed  all  else  will  be  right.  The 
only  thing  that  the  United  States  need  fear  is  corrup- 
tion of  morals.  Our  institutions  will  deteriorate  and 
our  flag  be  lowered,  unless  we  have  men  who  fear  and 
love  God.  A  good  Catholic  is  always  a  good  citizen, 
for  he  is  obedient  to  law,  believing  that  all  just  au- 
thority comes  from  God.  Far  better  to  vote  for  and 
place  in  office  a  decent  and  God  fearing  non-Catholic 
than  a  Catholic  who  neglects  his  religious  duties." 

Archbishop  Feehan  had  a  constant  fear  of  the  so- 
called  professional  Catholic  and  said,  "he  is  a  nuisance 
in  every  community."  To  such  men  he  gave  scant 
notice  and  always  suspected  their  motives.  He  thor- 
oughly despised  those  who  endeavored  to  grow  fat  on 
their  Catholicity.  He  called  such  a  behavior,  "a  sort 
of  sacrilege." 

On  one  occasion  when  asked  his  opinion  of  a  speech 
that  had  received  much  publicity  and  in  which  very 
vehement  protestations  of  patriotism  had  been  uttered, 
he  said:  "No  doubt,  it  will  be  read  widely  and  favorably 
commented  upon,  but  I  do  not  relish  such  speeches.  It 
seems  to  me  the  speaker  went  too  far  in  professing  his 
loyalty  and  the  patriotism  of  his  fellow- Catholics.  It 
seems  to  me,  it  smacks  of  apology  and  in  a  delicate  way 
insinuates  that  we  Catholics  are  perhaps  different  from 
other  citizens.  I  refuse  to  accept  such  a  position.  I 
am  of  my  own  choice  simply  an  American  citizen,  with 
no  explanation  or  apology."  Then  he  went  on  to  show 


HIS  LOVE  OF  AMERICA  297 

how  in  every  war,  in  every  epidemic  and  disaster,  and 
above  all  in  every  moral  issue,  Catholics  had  always 
proved  their  undying  loyalty  to  the  Republic.  "Let 
them,"  he  said,  "scrutinize  our  works  and  we  will  stand 
by  the  verdict.  To  wave  the  flag  too  often  and  too 
violently,  to  prate  too  much  about  patriotism  and  to 
seek  to  force  our  patent  claims  too  often,  does  more 
harm  than  good  and,  I  believe,  weakens  our  position. 
I  may  be  wrong,  but  such  are  my  views." 

On  another  occasion  he  said:  "It  is  surprising  and 
disheartening  to  find  otherwise  fair  and  apparently  edu- 
cated men  give  countenance  to  those  who  calumniate  us, 
and  who  seek  to  isolate  us  in  politics,  in  the  professions, 
and  even  in  social  life  at  times,  because  we  profess  the 
Catholic  faith.  One  would  not  wonder  at  such  actions 
in  the  rabble  and  mob,  but  it  is  difficult  to  analyze  this 
seemingly  ingrained  repulsion  to  all  things  Catholic. 
They  praise  our  organization  but  vilify  the  officials  and 
members  of  the  organization.  Though,  perhaps  it  is 
not  so  strange  when  we  consider  that  there  is  a  personal 
devil  who  is  ever  striving  to  sow  discord;  or  when  we 
remember  the  unfair  and  biased  group  that  has  writ- 
ten all  that  is  called  history,  much  of  which  is  false, 
during  the  last  three  hundred  years;  or  when  we  call 
to  mind  the  fact  that  the  great  missionary  people,  whose 
blood  has  so  largely  entered  into  the  fabric  of  America, 
were  first  robbed  of  their  educational  rights  and  then 
passed  around  the  world  as  examples  of  ignorance,  cul- 
tivated and  fostered  by  the  Catholic  Church.  Perhaps 
we  too,  if  we  had  been  deluged  as  they  have  been  with 
misinformation,  and  if  a  false  erroneous  conscience  had 
been  made  for  us ;  if  only  vile  books  had  been  placed  in 
our  hands,  would  be  no  fairer.  As  I  see  it,  we  must  be 
patient,  await  the  rewriting  of  history  and  in  the  mean- 


298       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

time  trust  in  God.  We  must  make  our  lives  so  fair, 
upright  and  moral  that  even  the  most  prejudiced  will 
be  forced  to  admire  us.  Many  of  the  most  violent 
against  every  thing  Catholic  are,  I  believe,  sincere  but 
misguided  and  we  must  exhibit  the  charity  of  Christ  in 
dealing  with  them." 

On  one  occasion  many  church  societies  came  to  greet 
the  Archbishop,  carrying  their  banners  and  national 
flags  through  the  streets  of  Chicago.  Through  some 
oversight  there  were  but  few  American  flags  and  those 
were  at  the  end  of  the  line  and  the  Archbishop  could 
not  see  them.  He  sent  for  the  one  in  charge  of  the 
parade,  and  said:  "I  do  not  see  any  American  flags, 
how  is  that?"  The  priest  replied  that  there  were  sev- 
eral in  the  parade  but  all  happened  to  be  scattered 
through  the  second  division.  To  which  the  Archbishop 
said:  "Father,  we  are  Americans  and  our  flag  should 
always  have  the  most  prominent  place.  I  know  it  was 
only  an  oversight  in  the  hurry  of  formation  but  others 
may  not  think  so.  I  will  wait  here  until  the  bearer  of 
the  flag  of  our  country  takes  his  proper  place  at  the 
head  of  the  procession." 

No  better  words  could  I  find  than  the  following,  to 
express  the  real  sentiments  of  Archbishop  Feehan  to- 
wards his  country: 

"Thou,  my  country,  write  it  on  thy  heart: 
Thy  sons  are  those  who  nobly  take  thy  part. 
Who  dedicates  his  manhood  at  thy  shrine, 
Wherever  born,  was  born  a  ;son  of  thine." 


OF  JHt 

*wwr  OF 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  ALEX.  J.  McGAVICK,  D.  D. 
In  the  year  1899 


CHAPTER  XXI 

BISHOP  ALEXANDER  J.  McGAVICK'S  CONSECRATION 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN'S  FAILING  HEALTH — CONSECRATION  OF 
BISHOP  MCGAVICK — THE  DINNER — SPEECH  BY  THE  ARCH- 
BISHOP— SPEECH  OF  BISHOP  MCGAVICK — ILLNESS  OF  THE 
NEW  AUXILIARY — PETITION  FOR  OTHER  AUXILIARY. 

ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN  was  in  his  seventieth  year  when, 
failing  in  health,  and  pressed  with  the  constantly  multi- 
plying cares  of  the  archdiocese,  he  asked  Rome  for  an 
episcopal  assistant.  In  answer  to  this  request  the  Rev. 
Alexander  J.  McGavick  was  chosen  auxiliary  bishop 
of  the  diocese  and  consecrated  titular  Bishop  of  Nar- 
copolis,  May  1,  1899.  The  consecration  took  place  in 
the  Holy  Name  Cathedral.  The  Consecrator  was  Arch- 
bishop Feehan,  assisted  by  Bishop  JDunne,  of  Dallas, 
and  Bishop  Ryan,  of  Alton.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  Bishop  Spalding,  of  Peoria. 

At  the  banquet  which  followed  the  consecration, 
Father  Kelly,  toastmaster,  proposed  the  health  of  the 
Archbishop  who,  in  reply,  gave  a  beautiful  speech  on 
the  work  the  Catholic  Church  had  done  in  Chicago  dur- 
ing his  administration.  The  Archbishop  spoke  as  fol- 
lows: 
"Most  Rev.  and  Rev.  Fathers: 

"I  thank  you  most  cordially  for  the  very  kind  manner 
in  which  the  toast  has  been  received.  Now  permit  me 
to  take  a  brief  glance  at  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago  for 
the  last  few  years.  It  will  explain  the  solemn  and 
beautiful  ceremony  of  this  morning,  and  why  you  are 
assembled  now. 

"Less  than  twenty  years  ago  Chicago  was  supposed 

299 


300       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

to  have  a  Catholic  population  of  about  two  hundred 
thousand.  Now,  at  a  moderate  estimate,  it  has  more 
than  six  hundred  thousand.  For  this  rapidly  growing 
number  of  people  it  has  been  necessary  to  provide  every- 
thing pertaining  to  their  religion.  Churches  had  to  be 
built  everywhere.  And  lest  this  labor  would  in  time 
become  fruitless,  schools  had  to  be  provided  for  the 
Catholic  education  of  the  young.  Then,  so  far  as  means 
and  circumstances  permitted,  it  was  necessary  to  care 
for  the  weaklings  of  so  large  a  flock ;  for  the  helplessness 
of  infancy,  for  the  feebleness  of  old  age,  for  the  orphan 
and  dependent  child,  for  the  sick  and  suffering,  for  the 
erring  and  unfortunate;  to  provide  training  schools  for 
the  growing  youth. 

"The  secret  of  the  work  so  far  done,  I  think,  lies 
chiefly  in  this,  that  in  all  those  years  there  has  been  an 
entire  unity,  an  unbroken  harmony  between  the  au- 
thority of  the  diocese  and  the  clergy.  I  have  had  an 
unchanging  trust  and  confidence  in  the  priests,  and  I 
have  good  reason  to  believe  that  trust  and  confidence 
have  been  mutual.  Then,  there  were  the  great  teaching 
bodies  and  the  number  of  devoted  religious  who  gave 
their  whole  lives  to  the  .various  works  of  charity. 

"And  so,  as  the  years  passed,  this  work  of  religion 
went  on,  quietly,  peacefully,  laboriously.  There  were 
no  failures;  everything  undertaken  has  been  carried  to 
a  successful  issue. 

"And  today,  looking  out  upon  the  whole  work  done, 
one  is  inclined  to  apply  the  words  of  the  great  Latin 
poet,  'Tanta  molis  erat  Romanam  condere  gentem.' 

"In  the  splendid  day  of  ancient  Rome  her  consuls  were 
warned  to  see  that  the  Republic  suffered  no  detriment. 
A  bishop,  admitted  to  a  share  in  the  government  of  that 
world-wide  Kingdom,  the  Holy  Catholic  Church,  has 


BISHOP  McGAVICK'S   CONSECRATION        301 

a  care  and  a  responsibility  that  no  Roman  consul  ever 
had  even  in  Rome's  palmiest  time. 

"And  thus  when  the  work  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chi- 
cago became  so  great  that  it  would  be  very  difficult,  if 
not  physically  impossible,  for  one  person  to  attend  to  it 
properly  and  its  various  necessary  details,  the  situa- 
tion being  made  known  to  the  Supreme  Pastor,  Our 
Holy  Father,  the  Pope,  He  graciously  granted  the  re- 
quest made  for  assistance.  He  appointed  an  Auxiliary 
Bishop,  and  in  the  person  of  one  who  for  several  years 
has  been  known  amongst  his  brethren,  as  a  priest  zeal- 
ous and  devoted  to  his  priestly  duties,  one  of  studious 
habits  and  unaffected  gentleness  of  character.  He 
comes  today  into  a  higher  place,  and  filled  with  a  new 
spirit,  since  we  are  assured,  'Vos  posuit  Spiritus  Sanc- 
tus  Episcopos  regere  Ecclesiam  Dei/ 

"And  now  the  work  of  religion  will  continue.  And 
as  Chicago  is  becoming  one  of  the  greatest  cities  of  the 
world,  in  population,  in  civic  and  commercial  activity, 
so,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  we  will  labor  together  to 
make  it  one  of  the  greatest  centers  of  Catholic  life  and 
strength  and  energy  in  the  whole  world." 

To  this  speech  of  Archbishop  Feehan  Bishop  Mc- 
Gavick  replied  as  follows: 

"Permit  me  in  the  first  place  to  thank  you,  Most 
Rev.  Archbishop,  for  the  kind  words  you  have  just 
uttered.  They  are  a  source  of  strength  and  encourage- 
ment to  me,  and  I  shall  remember  them  with  pleasure 
as  long  as  I  live. 

"I  desire  likewise  to  thank  you  all,  prelates  and  priests, 
for  the  honor  of  your  presence  at  the  ceremony  today. 
You  have  come  from  the  weary  rounds  of  pastoral  toil ; 
many  of  you,  no  doubt,  have  laid  aside  pressing  and  im- 
portant work,  and  some  have  journeyed  from  remote 

21 


302       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

places,  bearing  the  fatigues  of  long  travel  in  order  to 
be  here.  These  inconveniences  and  sacrifices  cheerfully 
endured  demand  from  me  an  expression  of  gratitude, 
a  sentiment  which  I  feel  deeply  and  sincerely  towards 
you  much  more  so  than  any  words  can  tell. 

"The  honor,  however,  which  this  large  and  magnifi- 
cent presence  implies  I  do  not  claim  as  mine.  I  realize 
fully  that  there  are  reasons,  other  than  personal  to 
me,  why  so  many  distinguished  prelates  and  such  a  mul- 
titude of  priests  should  gather  here  on  this  occasion. 
The  consecration  of  an  auxiliary  bishop  for  any  diocese 
is  a  matter  in  itself  diocesan.  It  is  something  which 
touches  the  diocese  itself,  and  in  which  the  diocese  as 
such  is  interested.  It  is  an  event  of  some  importance 
in  the  history  of  that  diocese.  I  would  be  blind  indeed 
then,  if  I  did  not  see  that  one  of  the  chief  purposes  of 
your  presence  today  is  to  testify  your  appreciation 
of  the  greatness  of  this  splendid  archdiocese,  as  well 
as  to  pay  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  great  Archbishop 
who  presides  over  it. 

"Here  we  have  a  flourishing  Church,  one  which  is  the 
marvel  of  the  country  for  the  development  which  it  has 
attained  to  in  its  short  existence;  which  has  all  along 
not  only  kept  pace  with  the  phenomenal  material  growth 
of  this  great  city,  but  at  times  would  seem  to  have 
stepped  forward  and  led  the  way  on  the  onward  march. 
Here  we  have  the  spirit  of  religion  deep  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people,  a  fact  evident  from  the  vast  multitudes 
in  regular  attendance  at  divine  services ;  multitudes  that 
fill  our  churches  to  overflowing  on  Sundays  and  Holy 
Days,  and  sweep  along  our  streets  in  veritable  human 
floods.  Here  we  have  temples  of  worship,  beautiful, 
magnificent,  and  growing  constantly  in  numbers,  each 
year  adding  new  gems,  fairer  and  more  soul-inspiring 


BISHOP  McGAVICK'S   CONSECRATION        303 

than  any  known  before.  Here  we  have  those  parochial 
schools  as  efficient  as  any  in  the  land,  and  with  a  larger 
attendance  than  that  found  in  any  other  diocese  of  the 
United  States.  More  than  fifty  thousand  children  we 
are  training  and  educating  here  daily  in  the  spirit  of 
Christ  under  the  shadow  of  the  cross.  Better  than  all 
we  have  here  a  faithful,  united  priesthood,  devoted  to 
their  duties,  rejoicing  to  waste  their  strength  in  the 
cause  of  God,  and  yet  working  harmoniously  together, 
all  cheerfully  uniting  their  efforts  into  one  mighty  effort 
to  promote  the  interest  of  religion,  to  extend  the  au- 
thority and  influence  of  the  Church,  and  give  glory  to 
Almighty  God. 

"A  truly  great  archdiocese  where  God's  work  is  being 
done  as  well  as  human  hands  can  do  it,  and  where  the 
results  accomplished  are  a  credit  and  encouragement  to 
human  endeavors.  Now,  while  many  heads  and  hands 
have  united  to  achieve  these  wonderful  results  with 
many  glorious  deeds  of  self  immolation  and  self  f  orget- 
fulness  unrecorded  and  unknown  save  but  to  God,  on 
the  part  of  individual  priests,  still  the  credit  belongs 
most  to  him  who  with  wise  and  gentle  rule  harmonized 
those  various  forces  and  directed  them  along  such  lines 
as  to  make  success  a  certainty. 

"At  your  feet,  therefore,  Most  Rev.  Archbishop,  I  lay 
the  honor  which  this  splendid  presence  implies.  It  is 
yours.  Your  untiring  labors  through  many  years,  your 
wisdom,  your  uniform  kindness  to  the  least  as  well  as  to 
the  greatest  among  your  priests,  a  quality  which  has 
drawn  all  our  hearts  to  you,  have  earned  the  honor  well. 

"It  has  fallen  to  me,  however  unworthy,  to  assist  hence- 
forth in  the  work  of  this  archdiocese  in  a  larger  measure 
than  heretofore.  The  former  field  has  been  enlarged 
somewhat,  a  few  more  acres  have  been  added  to  it,  and 


304       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

the  duties  correspondingly  multiplied.  But  labor  how- 
ever difficult  in  itself  becomes  comparatively  light  when 
done  under  another's  direction,  and  particularly  when 
that  other,  as  in  this  case,  is  one  who  while  still  carrying 
the  heavy  burden  of  responsibility  will  watch  over  us 
in  all  we  do  with  a  fatherly  care  and  a  fatherly  in- 
dulgence. 

"In  a  letter  which  I  received  a  few  days  ago  pertinent 
to  this  occasion,  the  writer  said  that  since  my  work  would 
be  to  help  souls  while  not  responsible  for  their  direc- 
tion, I  would  be  as  one  gathering  roses  without  feeling 
the  thorns.  Now  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  my  new 
duties  will  all  be  as  sweet  roses,  but  I  am  sure  that  the 
writer  touched  the  truth  closely  when  he  implied  that 
the  thorns  lay  chiefly  in  the  responsibility.  That  con- 
sideration brightens  this  occasion  for  me.  It  sweeps 
away  the  clouds  and  lets  the  sunlight  in.  If  it  were 
otherwise,  I  think,  I  should  stand  appalled  on  the  thresh- 
old of  this  new  career. 

"Besides  immunity  from  responsibility  there  is  another 
advantage  which  I  shall  happily  enjoy  and  from  which 
I  draw  courage  and  hope.  It  is  the  fact  that  I  shall 
be  closely  associated  in  my  work  with  one  whose  splendid 
Christian  character,  whose  shining  example  both  as  an 
individual  and  as  a  guide  and  ruler  of  the  faithful,  and 
whose  wise  counsel  will  be  a  light  for  me  along  the  way, 
a  light  which  will  lead  ever  onward  and  upward ;  a  bright 
light  which  it  will  be  well  for  me,  if  I  can,  faithfully 
to  follow.  With  such  a  light  close  at  hand  the  shadows 
which  may  beset  my  path  will  not  be  so  deep  or  dense, 
and  the  way  of  wisdom  will  be  more  easily  determined. 
I  shall  work  as  in  the  noon  day,  an  advantage  invaluable 
when  the  road  that  is  to  be  traveled  is  one  that  has  so 
many  turns. 

"Allow  me  to  ask  you  for  the  help  of  your  prayers. 


BISHOP   McGAVICK'S   CONSECRATION         305 

We  are  all  weak  vessels  of  clay  without  divine  help.  In 
leaning  upon  ourselves  we  lean  upon  broken  reeds. 
Man  is  never  so  impotent  as  when  doing  that  which 
concerns  him  most,  the  work  which  alone  will  count,  the 
work  of  upbuilding  and  perfecting  himself.  We  seem 
to  be  strong  as  giants  in  material  things;  we  seem  to 
be  veritable  gods  in  building  cities,  in  founding  and 
overturning  empires,  in  conquering  and  putting  to  use 
the  forces  of  nature,  but  when  it  comes  to  making  of 
ourselves  wise  and  worthy  men  intelligent  enough  to 
know  our  duty  under  all  circumstances  and  brave  enough 
to  do  it,  then  we  appear  indeed  like  little  children  totter- 
ing and  stumbling  on  their  first  feeble  steps.  But  the 
duty  of  men  truly  is  a  work  which  in  every  individual 
refers  immediately  to  God.  It  is  the  work  He  has 
marked  out  for  us  with  His  own  divine  hand,  and  He 
aids  those  who  invoke  Him  and  they  become  strong  in 
the  strength  of  His  omnipotence. 

"May  I  ask  you  today  to  beseech  Almighty  God  that 
He  may  give  to  me  such  graces  as  will  enable  me  to 
do  His  work  as  well  as  human  weakness  and  frailty  will 
permit,  and  that  I  may  work  before  Him  as  a  faithful 
apostle  in  all  things  pleasing." 

Alas!  Bishop  McGavick  on  account  of  continued  ill- 
ness was  not  to  be  the  support  of  Archbishop  Feehan 
in  his  declining  years.  In  fact,  the  consecration  had 
scarcely  taken  place  when  Bishop  McGavick  became  ill 
and  incapacitated  for  any  active  work.  Consequently 
the  Archbishop  looked  to  Rome  for  another  Auxiliary 
Bishop  and  from  a  letter  of  Cardinal  Ledochowski, 
dated  June  22,  1901,  we  learn  that  on  May  4th,  His 
Eminence  had  placed  before  His  Holiness,  Leo  XIII, 
the  petition  of  Archbishop  Feehan  that  Rev.  Peter  J. 
Muldoon  be  named  Auxiliary  Bishop  of  Chicago,  which 
petition  was  granted. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

BISHOP  PETER  J.  MULDOON'S  CONSECRATION 

IMPRESSIVE  SCENE  AT  THE  CATHEDRAL — OFFICERS  OF  THE  MASS 
— THE  NUMBER  OF  BISHOPS  AND  PRIESTS — THE  CELEBRATION 
— THE  REV.  TINAN'S  SPEECH — ANSWER  BY  ARCHBISHOP — 
SPEECH  OF  REV.  THIELE — ANSWER  BY  BISHOP  MULDOON — 
THE  GREAT  DEMONSTRATION  AT  NIGHT. 

AMID  deeply  impressive  ceremonies  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Peter  J.  Muldoon  was  consecrated  Auxiliary  Bishop  of 
Chicago  July  25,  1901,  by  His  Eminence,  Cardinal 
Sebastian  Martinelli,  the  papal  delegate  at  Washing- 
ton. In  dazzling  display  of  vestments  and  insignia  of 
Church  dignitaries,  and  in  the  elaborate  and  rich  decora- 
tions of  the  church  within  the  sanctuary,  the  scene  of 
that  day  at  the  cathedral  has  seldom  if  ever  been  equaled 
in  the  city  of  Chicago. 

At  9  o'clock  the  procession  of  600  priests  moved  up 
the  center  aisle  of  the  cathedral  and  as  it  advanced 
opened  out,  permitting  eight  visiting  bishops,  the  bishop- 
elect,  three  archbishops  and  Cardinal  Martinelli  to  pass 
through  their  ranks  to  the  sanctuary  and  take  their 
places  at  the  right  and  left  of  the  high  altar.  The  clergy 
were  placed  around  the  side  altars  and  in  the  front  pews. 
A  large  number  of  sisters  of  various  convents  and  rep- 
resentatives of  other  religious  orders  occupied  pews  to 
the  rear  of  the  clergy.  The  bishops  in  their  costly  robes, 
the  priests  in  their  surplices,  the  religious  in  their  re- 
spective garbs,  made  the  ceremonies  both  brilliant  and 
impressive. 

To  the  left  of  the  main  altar  was  the  episcopal  throne, 
draped  in  red,  where  preceding  the  ceremony,  the  dis- 
tinguished representative  of  Pope  Leo  sat,  surrounded 

306 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  PETER  J.  MULDOQX,  D.  D. 
In  the  year  1901 


IKE  LiBRW 

OFTHt 
ONIVERSin  OF  ILLINOIS 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S  -CONSECRATION        307 

by  his  chaplains  and  other  attendants.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  chancel  was  the  throne  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
ban,  draped  in  purple.  His  chaplains  were  the  Rev. 
P.  V.  Byrne,  C.  M.,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Molitor. 

The  officers  of  the  Pontifical  High  Mass  were: 

His  Eminence,  Cardinal  Sebastian  Martinelli,  Conse- 
crator  and  Celebrant  of  the  Mass,  attended  by  the 
Right  Rev.  Henry  Cosgrove,  Bishop  of  Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  the  Right  Rev.  James  Ryan,  Bishop  of 
Alton,  111. 

Assistant  Priest:    Very  Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons,  V.  G. 

Deacons  of  the  Mass :  Rev.  F.  S.  Henneberry  and  Rev. 
Ed.  A.  Kelly. 

Deacons  of  Honor:  Rev.  J.  D.  Riordan  and  Rev.  J. 
M.  Scanlan. 

Masters  of  Ceremonies :  Rev.  F.  J.  Barry,  assisted  by 
Rev.  David  McDonald  and  Rev.  J.  J.  Code. 

Notary:  The  Very  Rev.  Andrew  Morressey,  C.  S.  C., 
of  Notre  Dame  University. 

Chanters:  Rev.  J.  F.  Callaghan  and  Rev.  John  P. 
Dore. 

Preacher:    The  Rev.  M.  J.  O'Connor,  S.  J. 

Cross  Bearer:    The  Rev.  J.  J.  Dennison. 

Chaplains  to  Bishop  Cosgrove;  Rev.  T.  Moreschini; 
O.  S.,  and  Rev.  W.  Netstraeter. 

Chaplains  to  Bishop  Ryan:  Rev.  C.  Fournier,  C.  S.  V., 
and  Rev.  T.  F.  O'Gara. 

Chaplain  to  Bishop-elect  Muldoon :    Rev.  Francis  Gor- 
don, C.  R.,  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Coughlin. 
Among  the  prelates  who  attended  the  consecration 

service  with  their  chaplains  were: 

Archbishop  F.  X.  Katzer,  of  Milwaukee,  with  Father 
George  Heldman. 


308       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

Archbishop  W.  Henry  Elder,  of  Cincinnati,  with  the 

Rev.  J.  A.  Beil,  C.  SS.  R. 
Bishop  C.  P.  Maes,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  with  the  Rev. 

T.  E.  Cox. 
Bishop  Maurice  Burke,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  with  the 

Rev.  J.  J.  Jennings. 
Bishop  John  Janssen,  of  Belleville,  111.,  with  the  Rev. 

A.  L.  Bergeron. 
Bishop  E.  J.  Dunne,  of  Dallas,  Texas,  with  the  Rev. 

Richard  Dunne. 
Bishop  John  L.  Spalding,  of  Peoria,  111.,  with  the  Rev. 

J.  Nawrocki. 
Bishop  J.  F.  Cunningham,  of  Concordia,  Kas.,  with  the 

Rev.  P.  C.  Conway. 
Bishop  P.  J.  Donahoe,  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  with  the 

Rev.  P.  J.  O'Reilly. 
Bishop  Dennis  O'Donaghue,  of  Indianapolis,  with  the 

Rev.  L.  Campbell. 
Bishop  A.  J.  McGavick. 
The  Right  Rev.  Abbot  N.  Jaeger,  O.  S.  B.,  of  Chicago, 

with  the  Rev.  V.  Kolbeck,  O.  S.  B. 
The  Right  Rev.  Abbot  E.  M.  Obrecht,  of  Gethsemane, 

Ky.,  with  the  Rev.  L.  Moloney. 
Monsignor  F.  Z.  Rooker,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  Sec- 
retary of  the  Cardinal. 
Monsignor  M.  P.  Abbelen,  of  Milwaukee. 
Monsignor  Revoux,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Besides  these  dignitaries  there  were  a  large  number 
of  priests  present  from  Chicago  and  elsewhere  together 
with  a  number  of  the  most  prominent  laymen. 

The  banquet  in  Cathedral  Hall,  which  followed 
Bishop  Muldoon's  consecration  ceremony,  was  one  of 
the  most  notable  gatherings  of  Church  dignitaries  and 
clergymen  that  ever  assembled  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S   CONSECRATION        309 

Cardinal  Martinelli,  three  archbishops,  eleven  bishops, 
and  over  600  priests  enjoyed  the  feast  of  wit,  wisdom, 
eloquence,  and  good  fellowship  that  flavored  the  sump- 
tuous menu  throughout.  The  decorations  of  the  banquet 
hall,  which  were  the  work  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  were  beautiful,  artistic  and  inviting. 

The  first  toast,  "Our  Holy  Father,"  was  responded 
to  by  the  distinguished  Bishop  John  L.  Spalding,  of 
Peoria,  and  we  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  give  a 
verbatim  report  of  his  eloquent  tribute  to  Leo  XIII. 

The  Rev.  N.  J.  Mooney,  of  St.  Columbkill's,  re- 
sponded to  the  toast,  "His  Eminence,  Cardinal  Marti- 
nelli," and  in  acknowledging  the  toast  in  his  honor,  the 
Cardinal  spoke  of  the  kindness  of  Archbishop  Feehan 
and  also  of  the  royal  welcome  that  had  been  given  him. 
He  said  as  long  as  he  lived  he  would  affectionately 
remember  the  goodness  of  the  Chicago  clergy.  He 
expected  great  works  for  God  from  this  magnificent 
diocese.  These  mighty  things  would  be  accomplished 
through  a  loyal  and  obedient  priesthood.  He  concluded 
by  saying  that  he  never  saw  a  larger  gathering  of  clergy 
at  any  Church  function. 

The  Rev.  P.  J.  Tinan,  of  Holy  Rosary  Church,  re- 
sponded to  the  toast,  "Chicago  and  its  Archbishop,"  as 
follows : 

"Your  Eminence,  Most  Rev.  Archbishops,  Right  Rev. 
Bishops,  Very  Rev.  and  Rev.  Fathers: 

"In  being  chosen  to  reply  in  the  name  of  my  brethren 
to  the  toast,  'Our  Most  Rev.  Archbishop,'  I  appreciate 
the  great  but  unmerited  honor  conferred  upon  me.  I 
am  at  a  very  great  loss  to  know  how  to  proceed,  for 
I  am  deeply  sensible  of  the  delicacy  of  my  position.  I 
know  that  while  I  speak,  tongues  much  more  eloquent 
and  vastly  better  equipped  to  address  themselves  to  this 


310       THE  LIFE   OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

splendid  theme  are  silent.  I  know,  moreover,  that  the 
venerable  subject  of  this  sentiment,  like  every  great  and 
good  man,  instinctively  shrinks  from  anything  like  the 
parading  or  publication  of  his  virtues  and  good  deeds; 
that  he  abhors  flattery ;  and  that  he  despises  the  flatterer. 

"My  one  coigne  of  vantage  is  the  fact  that  his  life  in 
this  western  metropolis  for  well  nigh  a  quarter  of  a 
century — a  life  active  and  fruitful  in  works,  grand, 
beneficent  and  holy — is  of  public  record;  and  I  feel  he 
will  gainsay  me  neither  the  privilege  nor  the  right  to 
speak  of  it.  That  record  is  writ  in  every  line  of  those 
wonderful  monuments  to  Catholic  faith,  to  Catholic 
zeal  and  to  Catholic  generosity  which  are  everywhere 
visible  throughout  this  great  archdiocese. 

"It  is  writ  in  those  many  splendid  fanes  built  to  God 
and  God's  holy  worship;  it  is  writ  in  those  magnificent 
institutions  of  Catholic  education  and  upbuilding  of 
Catholic  manhood  and  Catholic  womanhood,  whether 
college,  academy,  high  school  or  modest  parish  school 
which  nestles  'neath  the  shadow  of  every  church  tower; 
it  is  writ  in  those  numerous  homes,  over  which  charity 
and  brotherly  love  are  the  presiding  genii,  and  wherein 
the  afflicted,  the  outcast,  the  orphaned,  the  friendless 
find  sympathy,  shelter,  refuge,  and  are,  as  it  were,  born 
again  to  hope.  For  his  aid  and  encouragement  have 
given  to  many  of  them  their  beginning,  have  helped  all 
of  them  in  their  progress,  and  have  brought  most  of 
them  to  their  completion. 

"Hence,  when  we  study  the  history  of  this  portion  of 
the  Lord's  vineyard  for  the  last  twenty-two  years,  with 
its  multitudinous  demands  and  diversified  interests; 
when  we  estimate  the  arduous  labors  and  vast  resources 
to  keep  pace  with  the  phenomenal  growth  and  develop- 
ment and  meet  its  many  pressing  wants;  when  we  con- 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S   CONSECRATION       311 

sider  its  peculiar  composition,  made  up  of  people  so 
radically  different  in  language,  in  taste  and  environ- 
ment, we  may  judge  of  the  wisdom,  the  prudence,  the 
firmness  necessary  to  draw  in  on  converging  lines  forces 
traveling  ways  so  divergent,  and  we  may  well  stand 
amazed  at  the  grand,  symmetrical  whole  which  has 
evolved  from  elements  so  uncongenial.  Must  we  not, 
in  justice  then,  admire  and  give  full  credit  to  the  great 
central  figure,  the  master  mind,  who,  in  the  Providence 
of  God,  has  planned  and  carried  to  successful  accom- 
plishment this  wondrous  work? 

"Such  is  the  character,  and  such,  in  brief,  is  the  his- 
tory of  the  archiepiscopate  of  our  revered  Metropol- 
itan. For,  I  opine,  that  it  is  no  detraction  from  the 
glory  and  merits  of  his  sainted  predecessors,  to  say  that 
when  Archbishop  Feehan  at  the  bidding  of  his  illustrious 
Chief,  assumed  the  shepherdship  of  this  widowed  See, 
he  found  the  Church  in  process  of  formation.  Count- 
less thousands  of  the  faithful  were  flocking  from  the 
four  winds  to  this  rapidly  growing  city  as  the  Mecca  of 
their  earthly  hopes.  Well  might  he  hesitate  at  the 
magnitude  of  the  task  before  him  and  ask:  'Whence 
shall  we  buy  bread  that  these  may  eat?' 

"But,  'he  knew  what  he  would  do/  nor  did  he  waste 
precious  time  in  discussion  with  questioning  Philips. 
His  great  mind  rose  equal  to  the  occasion,  his  genius 
conceived  the  plan  of  action,  his  wisdom  and  firmness 
directed  its  carrying  out,  and  his  prudence  and  fore- 
sight conserved  the  results.  He  was  quick  to  appreciate 
fully  the  difficulties  of  the  problems  continually  present- 
ing themselves;  he  has  ever  had  the  courage  to  meet 
them  squarely  and  manfully;  he  has  shown  the  ability 
and  resourcefulness  to  solve  them  successfully. 

"In  that  profound  humility  and  spirit  of  self-efface- 


312       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

ment  which  so  eminently  adorn  his  sacred  character,  we 
heard  him  frequently  decline  the  credit  for  the  great 
work,  the  growth  of  which  he  has  watched  to  such  happy 
fruition.  He  would  rather  generously  attribute  those 
glorious  and  splendid  results  to  the  zeal  and  self-sacrifice 
of  a  devoted  clergy  and  people.  This  magnanimity 
has  made  him  dear  to  all  of  us — clergy,  religious  and 
laity — for  we  know  its  genuineness  and  have  often  felt 
its  encouraging  influence;  but  nevertheless  we  refuse 
to  acquiesce  in  his  abdication  of  the  honor  and  glory 
so  justly  his,  and  we  feel  amply  repaid  to  be  permitted 
to  humbly  share  them  with  him.  We  regard  this  honor 
as  our  sacred  trust,  his  glory  as  partly  our  own,  his 
success  in  doing  God's  work,  in  upbuilding  God's  Holy 
Church  as  part  and  parcel  with  ourselves.  This  inter- 
confidence,  this  fraternal  regard,  this  mutual  good  feel- 
ing between  His  Grace  of  Chicago  and  his  clergy  and 
people  have  grown  out  of  the  beautiful  relations  so  long 
existing  between  them.  By  the  mildness  and  justness 
of  his  government,  by  his  greatness  of  head  and  good- 
ness of  heart,  by  his  tender  consideration  for  the  feelings 
and  welfare  of  others  he  has  won  the  confidence  and  love 
of  priests  and  people. 

"Herein  we  touch  the  chord — finer,  more  tender,  holier 
— upon  whose  pure  note  it  is  sweet  to  linger ;  for  brick 
and  stone  and  mortar  are  soulless  things  at  best,  which 
must  needs  have  genius  and  love  and  sympathy  to  give 
them  form  and  shape  and  beauty,  and  tongue  to  speak. 
The  members  of  his  flock  have  ceased  to  look  upon  their 
Archbishop  as  a  superior  with  power  to  command  and 
exact  obedience;  nor  altogether  as  a  father,  for  that 
title  comes  with  the  idea  of  absolute  sovereignty;  but 
rather  as  he  so  beautifully  expressed  it  himself  on  a 
memorable  occasion,  they  look  upon  him  as  the  elder 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S   CONSECRATION        313 

brother  on  whose  shoulders  has  fallen  the  mantle  of 
power  to  rule  the  household,  but  who  generously  shares 
with  his  brethren  the  responsibility  of  its  management. 

"This  tender  relation  is  to  my  mind,  under  God,  the 
great  secret  of  the  wonderful  progress  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  this  archdiocese.  This  community  of  interests 
has  been  a  stimulus  to  individual  effort;  it  has  begotten 
a  sense  of  personal  responsibility — two  forces  which 
when  centrally  and  wisely  controlled  are  irresistible  and 
when  crowned  with  the  blessing  of  God  in  God's  work, 
know  no  limit  to  their  endeavor.  What  in  the  rewards 
which  come  with  years  can  be  dearer  to  the  heart  of  a 
father  than  the  consciousness  that  he  holds  the  love  and 
reverence  of  his  children?  What  dearer  to  the  heart  of 
the  superior  than  that  he  possesses  the  confidence  and 
generous  support  of  his  subjects?  What  more  consoling 
to  the  heart  of  the  Bishop  than  that  he  has  the  unswerv- 
ing loyalty  of  his  clergy,  and  a  place  deep  down  in  their 
affection?  As  father,  superior  and  bishop,  all  these  and 
much  more  have  been  the  happy  heritage  of  our  beloved 
Archbishop.  Need  we  now  pledge  their  continuance? 
No!  Pledges  are  empty  things,  easily  made  and  easily 
broken.  Deeds  speak  louder  than  words  and  are  more 
enduring.  It  has  been  said  'Not  by  their  words,  but 
'ex  fructibus  eorum'  you  shall  know  them/  and  we 
prefer  to  stand  by  the  record. 

"Today,  our  Good  Shepherd,  now  in  the  autumn  of 
life  and  seeking  a  well  merited  respite  from  his  hard 
labor,  gives  us  yet  another  evidence  of  his  unremitting 
solicitude  for  the  flock  entrusted  to  his  care,  in  choosing 
a  young,  energetic,  zealous  and  honored  auxiliary  to 
share  his  labors  and  bear  a  portion  of  his  heavy  burden. 
We  assure  Your  Grace  that  we  shall  give  to  him,  as 
your  representative,  the  same  hearty,  loyal  support  that 


314       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

we  have  given  to  yourself,  yet,  we  trust  that  while  you 
allot  to  him  of  the  physical  work  of  your  administration, 
it  will  be  yours  still  to  lead  us  as  of  yore,  'firmiter  sed 
suaviter  ad  multos  annos.' ' 

In  responding  to  this  toast  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop 
gave  unmistakable  evidence  of  his  great  pleasure  at  the 
sentiments  expressed  in  the  toast  offered,  and  referring 
to  his  Auxiliary,  said  when  he  found  need  of  assistance 
in  the  work  of  this  great  archdiocese  he  looked  among 
the  clergy  and  found  in  the  priest,  who  was  consecrated 
today,  one  who  had  proved  himself  at  all  times  and 
under  all  circumstances  generous,  faithful  and  unswerv- 
ingly loyal.  Every  trust  confided  to  him  had  been 
faithfully  fulfilled,  and  unostentatiously  every  duty  per- 
formed. From  the  time  of  his  boyhood  days  I  have 
followed  his  acts  and  his  zeal  for  things  of  the  Church, 
and  now  I  am  happy  that  Rome  so  willingly  acceded  to 
my  request  for  aid,  and  I  feel  that  the  newly  conse- 
crated bishop  will  be  my  right  hand  in  all  the  works 
of  the  diocese  and  will  be  an  interested  laborer  in  this 
vineyard.  He  was  loyal  and  obedient  as  a  priest, 
and  I  know  that  the  same  qualities  will  only  be  in- 
creased, if  possible,  by  his  new  dignity. 

The  Rev.  Aloysius  Thiele,  of  St.  Aloysius'  Church, 
responding  to  the  toast,  "Our  Auxiliary,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Muldoon,"  said: 

"Our  Auxiliary  Bishop!  The  first  sentiment  which 
pulses  in  our  breast  at  these  words  is  joy  and  satisfac- 
tion. Joy  and  satisfaction  first  of  all  when  we  direct 
our  eyes  to  the  venerable  and  beloved  Archbishop  whose 
dearest  wish  has  been  fulfilled  by  receiving  his  long 
looked  for  auxiliary.  Schiller,  the  great  German  poet, 
in  his  immortal  ballad,  'Damon  and  Pythias,'  says  these 
words:  'And  love,  oh,  it  is  only  an  empty  dream/  It 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S   CONSECRATION        315 

has  always  been  claimed  for  the  clergy  of  this  arch- 
diocese that  they  were  bound  up  in  their  Archbishop 
with  a  great  and  abiding  love.  But  this  love,  would  it  not 
be  an  empty  dream  if  we  did  not  rejoice  with  him  now 
that  the  son  of  his  declining  years  has  been  given  to  him 
by  Mother  Church  as  the  staff  of  his  old  age?  That 
one,  too,  of  his  spiritual  sons  who  in  his  opinion  was  the 
fittest  to  share  in  his  wise  and  gentle  rule,  fitted  for  this 
exalted  but  none  the  less  arduous  position  by  years  of 
work  under  his  very  eyes,  work  calling  for  the  utmost 
self-denial  and  the  sacrifice  of  all  the  energies  of  body 
and  soul  and  for  the  greatest  prudence  and  boundless 
tact  and  diplomacy.  All  of  us,  nay,  the  whole  city  and 
Archdiocese  of  Chicago,  can  bear  witness  to  it  how 
Bishop  Muldoon  bore  up  under  the  immense  burden  of 
work  confided  to  his  hands  during  all  the  years  that  he 
was  our  Chancellor,  never  complaining,  but  on  the 
contrary  giving  one  the  impression  that  he  had  time  and 
strength  left  for  even  greater  tasks. 

"To  exemplify,  let  me  only  remind  you  of  that  year 
during  which  our  archdiocese  and  this  metropolitan  city 
was  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes  not  only  in  the  United 
States,  but  all  over  the  world — the  year  of  the  Colum- 
bian Exposition.  At  that  time  the  honor  of  the  Catholic 
Church  as  an  educator  of  her  children  was  at  stake.  'To 
be  or  not  to  be,'  that  was  the  question.  We  all  know 
what  the  results  were  of  that  year,  and  that  during  its 
course  one  of  the  brighest  pages  in  the  history  of  our 
archdiocese  was  written.  But  who  was  it  that  wrote 
this  page  almost  with  his  heart's  blood?  At  the  word 
of  our  great  chief,  who  with  a  wonderful  sagacity  had 
comprehended  not  only  the  importance  of  the  hour,  but 
also  the  possibilities  at  his  command,  our  Chancellor 
bounded  forth;  like  young  David,  he  went  to  meet 


316       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Goliath.  Discouragement,  nay  contempt,  from  the  out- 
side, timidity  and  inexperience  in  our  own  ranks — all 
had  to  give  way  before  his  great  zeal  and  patience,  his 
prudence,  his  talent  for  organization,  and  he  never 
rested  day  or  night  until  the  triumph  of  Catholic  edu- 
cation was  complete  and  until  with  the  acclaim  of  clergy 
and  people  and  amidst  the  applause  of  an  admiring 
world  he  could  place  a  crown  of  honor  upon  our  Arch- 
bishop's brow,  prouder  than  which  no  Prince  of  the 
Church  ever  wore  and  of  which  no  one  will  ever  be  able 
to  rob  him,  that  crown  that  bears  for  its  motto:  'The 
Protector  of  Our  Schools/ 

"Next  to  the  satisfaction  which  it  would  undoubtedly 
give  each  one  of  us  if  this  'bonum  opus'  would  fall  to 
our  personal  share  stands  the  pride  to  see  it  come  to 
one  of  our  number.  This  pride  we  may  well  feel  today 
in  looking  upon  our  dear  auxiliary  who,  if  anything,  is  a 
typical  Chicago  priest.  They  state  that  he  was  born 
in  California,  and  I  was  very  sorry  to  make  up  my  mind 
that  he  was  not  a  Chicago  boy.  But  he  came  to  Chi- 
cago as  soon  as  he  could.  Chicago  was  his  goal;  he  was 
attracted  by  Chicago  as  iron  by  the  magnet.  It  was  his 
ambition  to  be  a  Chicago  priest,  and  again  I  say  he  has 
succeeded  in  a  most  supreme  degree.  Has  he  not?  Let 
me  prove  it  for  the  benefit  of  those  from  abroad  who 
may  doubt  it.  What  does  the  public  say  of  our  auxil- 
iary? They  call  him  a  wise  and  learned  man,  a  pro- 
found theologian.  They  say  that  he  is  pious  and  gentle, 
that  he  has  an  immense  fund  of  patience,  that  he  be- 
longs to  the  ranks  of  the  'nonpercussores.'  And  in 
order  to  prove  that  he  is  'domus  suae  bene  praepositus' 
they  show  us  the  majestic  church  which  he  has  built, 
show  us  his  crowded  schools,  and  tell  us,  all  this  was 
done  hand-in-hand  with  his  people  and  without  any 
apparent  effort,  simply  by  the  'savoir  faire'  of  Bishop 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S   CONSECRATION        317 

Muldoon,  and  is  today  almost  paid  for.  All  these  and 
many  more  complimentary  things  are  said  of  Bishop 
Muldoon. 

"He,  if  any  man,  thoroughly  knows  our  cosmopolitan 
archdiocese  and  all  the  peoples  that  form  its  parts.  And 
to  judge  from  his  past  I  take  it  for  granted  that  all 
of  them  are  not  only  known  to  him,  but  also  dear  to  his 
heart.  Not  the  noble  army  of  young  American  Catho- 
lics alone,  but  with  them  also  the  faithful  children  of 
old  Erin,  the  God-fearing  sons  of  Germany,  the  brave 
and  heroic  Poles,  the  loyal  children  of  France  and 
sunny  Italy's  devoted  sons,  our  industrious  Bohemians 
and  frugal  Lithuanians  and  many  other  races,  with 
their  needs  and  necessities  and  their  peculiarities  are 
well  known  to  our  Auxiliary  Bishop.  Will  he  improve 
his  chances?  He  can  do  it  and  he  will  do  it  by  simply 
being  just  and  fair  to  all." 

In  responding  to  the  toast  in  his  honor  the  newly 
consecrated  Bishop  thanked  the  Cardinal  for  his  good- 
ness of  heart  in  coming  so  far  at  such  a  torrid  season 
to  rejoice  the  heart  of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese,  and  to 
lend  dignity  to  the  ceremony  of  the  day.  He  also  ex- 
pressed his  gratitude  to  the  many  bishops,  who  on  such 
short  notice  and  at  great  personal  sacrifice  graced  the 
occasion.  His  gratitude  was  expressed  to  his  pastor 
of  boyhood  days,  who  came  from  California,  and  also  to 
his  friends  and  classmates  who  hastened  from  all  parts 
of  the  United  States  in  order  to  render  happy  the  day 
of  the  consecration. 

The  Bishop  stated  that  his  heart  was  filled  with  happi- 
ness both  as  a  priest  and  as  a  man;  as  a  priest  for  the  full- 
ness of  the  priesthood  conferred,  and  also  for  the  large 
field  of  graces  that  is  opened  up  by  the  consecration. 
He  stated  that  he  had  just  enough  Irish  blood  in  his 

22 


318       THE  LIFE  OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

veins  to  love  a  combat,  and  what  a  combat  to  engage 
in!  To  war  unceasingly  against  the  devil,  where  so  many 
souls  are  in  question.  As  a  priest  to  have  a  minor  part 
in  helping  and  encouraging  the  60,000  parochial  school 
children  to  knowledge  of  God  and  country.  The  heart 
of  a  priest  must  enthuse  at  the  wonderful  possibilities 
for  good  in  the  parochial  schools.  As  a  priest  he  be- 
held all  the  nations  of  the  earth  gathered  around  the 
feet  of  Christ  in  this  matchless  City  of  Chicago.  All 
nations  are  represented  and  from  out  this  mosaic  of 
nations  how  beautifully  are  springing  forth  the  features 
of  Christ  Jesus. 

He  expressed  the  hope  that  at  all  times  he  would  be 
broad  enough  and  Christian  enough  not  to  question  or 
ask  the  nationality  of  any  man,  but  rather  ask  the  ques- 
tion, "Is  he  a  man;"  that  is,  is  the  soul  free  from  all 
things  that  savor  of  only  the  human  and  filled  with  the 
true  love  of  Christ. 

As  a  man,  he  was  also  happy,  to  enjoy  the  love  and 
affection  of  every  true  follower  of  Jesus  obedient  unto 
death,  and  the  presence  of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese  in 
such  great  numbers  inspired  him  with  new  courage  for 
the  tasks  of  the  future.  As  a  man  also,  and  most  of  all, 
he  appreciated  the  confidence  and  trust  of  the  loving, 
generous  and  always  kind  Archbishop  Feehan,  as  evi- 
denced in  his  selection — the  greater  the  man,  the  greater 
the  gift  when  presented.  In  conclusion,  he  expressed 
the  hope  that  God  might  allow  him  to  serve  long  and 
faithfully  one  who  had  been  so  universally  kind.  At 
some  far  distant  day,  he  said,  when  God  may  call  to 
the  reward  of  his  labors  the  honored  head  of  the  diocese, 
he  wished  to  deserve  from  the  clergy  of  the  diocese  this 
encomium — that  he  had  been  a  faithful,  loyal  and  grate- 
ful son,  to  such  a  magnanimous,  generous  and  kind 
father. 


BISHOP   MULDOON'S   CONSECRATION        319 

In  the  evening  the  cheers  of  thousands  greeted  Bishop 
Muldoon  as  he  rode  at  the  end  of  a  procession,  a  mile 
long,  to  his  home  at  Twelfth  and  Cypress  Streets.  Thou- 
sands more  crowded  the  lawn  in  front  of  the  rectory  to 
receive  his  episcopal  blessing.  The  procession  and  the 
gathering  at  the  house  were  the  closing  events  of  this 
great  day.  In  the  procession  which  escorted  the  Bishop 
to  his  home  were  local  Courts  of  Catholic  fraternal, 
temperance,  and  religious  societies.  Three  thousand 
men  were  in  the  line,  which  began  its  march  at  Twelfth 
Street  and  Ashland  Boulevard,  proceeded  north  to  Jack- 
son Boulevard  and  there  met  the  newly  consecrated 
Bishop,  whom  they  had  gathered  to  honor. 

Accompanied  by  Vicar-General  Fitzsimmons  and 
Fathers  Baart  and  Kearney,  the  Bishop  arrived  at  8 :30 
o'clock.  His  carriage,  preceded  by  a  delegation  from 
the  Patriotic  Sons  of  F.  M.,  and  followed  by  a  squad 
of  policemen,  took  its  place  in  the  rear  of  the  procession 
and  the  march  to  the  Bishop's  home  began.  Policemen, 
mounted  and  on  foot,  led  the  way,  and  were  followed  by 
a  brass  band  of  sixty  pieces.  The  line  of  march  was 
lighted  by  rockets,  Roman  candles  and  colored  lights; 
strings  of  gay  Chinese  lanterns  hung  from  many  of  the 
verandas  along  the  streets. 

Bishop  Muldoon,  despite  the  ordeal  of  the  day,  seemed 
fresh  and  vigorous  as  he  mounted  the  veranda  and 
listened  to  the  cheering  which  greeted  his  appearance. 
After  the  clamor  had  subsided  he  expressed  his  appre- 
ciation to  his  parishioners  and  friends  for  this  enthusias- 
tic welcome  demonstration,  spoke  of  his  happiness  in 
being  left  pastor  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo's  and  lastly 
imparted  his  episcopal  blessing  to  all  present.  Thus 
ended  the  memorable  day  of  Bishop  Muldoon's  conse- 
cration in  Chicago. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
SICKNESS  AND  DEATH  OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

HIS  SUDDEN  DEATH — COMMENTS  BY  VICAR-GENERAL  FITZSIM- 
MONS  AND  MR.  LUTHER  LAFLIN — BODY  LIES  IN  STATE — NO- 
TICES FOR  FUNERAL — CONDITION  OF  THE  ARCHDIOCESE — 
STATISTICS — TRIBUTE  BY  NEWSPAPERS — LETTERS  OF  CON- 
DOLENCE. 

IT  was  about  this  time  that  a  change  was  noticed  by 
many  in  the  physical  condition  of  Archbishop  Feehan 
and  grave  fears  were  entertained  that  the  good  Prelate 
would  never  again  recover  his  robust  health,  although 
the  great  affliction  which  followed  within  a  year,  was  not 
anticipated  to  be  so  soon  visited  upon  a  devoted  people. 
Daily,  at  all  the  Masses,  from  thousands  of  loving  hearts 
supplications  arose  to  the  Father  of  us  all  that  the 
health  and  strength  of  the  good  Prelate  might  be  re- 
stored and  that  he  might  be  spared  to  continue  his  life 
of  usefulness  and  mission  of  mercy;  but  such  was  not 
the  will  of  God,  "Man  proposes  and  God  disposes." 

At  the  age  of  73,  on  the  12th  day  of  July,  A.  D. 
1902,  at  3:00  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  great  Archbishop  died 
suddenly  at  the  archiepiscopal  residence  in  the  City  of 
Chicago.  The  immediate  cause  of  his  death  was  apo- 
plexy. On  the  morning  of  his  death  the  Archbishop 
arose  in  his  usual  cheerful  spirits  and  after  having  trans- 
acted his  customary  business  with  his  clergy  and  laity, 
partook  of  his  dinner  and  shortly  after  retired  to  his 
apartments  for  a  rest.  Soon  after  retiring  he  was  seized 
with  violent  pains  in  his  side  accompanied  by  great 
weakness  and  languor  which  resisted  every  effort  on  the 
part  of  the  attendants  and  physicians  for  relief.  The 
members  of  his  household  noticing  the  pallor  of  death 

320 


SICKNESS   AND   DEATH  321 

and  other  unmistakable  symptoms  of  rapidly  approach- 
ing dissolution,  summoned  the  Rev.  Francis  J.  Barry, 
the  Archbishop's  secretary,  who  administered  to  him  the 
last  Sacraments.  After  the  last  Sacraments  had  been 
administered  the  aged  Prelate  looked  lovingly  for  the 
last  time  upon  the  faces  of  those  who  surrounded  his 
bedside,  a  gentle  smile  suffused  his  noble  countenance 
and  he  sank  back  upon  his  pillow  in  a  state  of  coma  from 
which  he  never  rallied.  Gathered  around  his  bedside, 
in  tearful  anguish  watching  for  the  sainted  spirit  to 
burst  its  mold  of  clay,  were  his  two  sisters,  Mother  Cath- 
erine, Superior  of  St.  Patrick's  Academy,  and  Miss 
Kate  Feehan;  present  also  were  the  household  officials, 
the  Rev.  Father  Barry  and  the  servants. 

Scarcely  had  the  last  spark  of  life  vanished  when  from 
the  deep  throats  of  the  cathedral's  tolling  bells  the  sor- 
rowful news  was  carried  from  one  parish  to  another 
until  the  bells  of  every  Catholic  church  in  the  city 
mingled  their  mournful  tones  in  sad  refrain.  Soon  the 
whole  city  was  apprised  of  the  (Aifchbishop's  death. 
Clergy  and  laymen  flocked  to  the  archiepiscopal  resi- 
dence until  far  into  the  night  bearing  messages  of  con- 
dolence to  the  bereaved  household.  The  death  of  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  was  felt  to  be  an  irreparable  loss  not  only 
by  those  of  his  own  faith,  but  by  the  entire  community. 

We  here  reproduce  extracts  from  a  sermon  upon 
the  death  of  our  illustrious  Prelate,  by  the  Rev.  M. 
J.  Fitzsimmons,  Vicar-General  of  the  Archdiocese,  a 
representative  Catholic  priest,  followed  by  the  comments 
of  Mr.  Luther  Laflin  Mills,  a  representative  American 
lawyer. 

Said  Vicar-General  Fitzsimmons :  "I  cannot  leave  this 
pulpit  on  this  occasion  without  saying  something  to  you 
of  the  man  whose  death  the  whole  Catholic  Church 


322       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

mourns  today.  Death  has  cast  its  gloom  of  sadness  over 
this  city  and  this  diocese,  and  its  shadow  hangs  like  a 
pall  and  cloud  over  every  one  who  knew  the  virtues  of 
the  dead  Archbishop.  We  have  not  every  one  been 
fortunate  enough  to  claim  him  as  a  personal  friend,  but 
we  all  knew  him  for  his  ceaseless  labors  in  the  Church. 

"His  stewardship  was  great,  but  no  matter  how  bur- 
densome were  its  cares,  he  was  ever  true  to  his  trust. 
Laboring  and  battling  ever  for  the  Church,  he  was  one 
of  God's  noblemen.  To  know  him  was  to  love  him; 
he  had  those  noble  qualities  that  made  him  lovable.  He 
was  broad,  yet  faithful  to  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ. 
He  was  ever  one  of  the  highest  ideals  in  the  episcopacy 
of  God's  Church. 

"Broad,  liberal,  kind  of  heart,  possessing  all  virtues, 
he  had  endeared  himself  to  every  one  that  came  in  con- 
tact with  him.  In  the  administration  of  this  diocese  he 
governed  not  by  superiority,  but  by  love  and  affection. 
Walking  faithfully  in  the  footsteps  of  his  Divine  Master, 
his  pre-eminent  characteristic  was  kindness  of  heart  and 
love  for  mankind.  He  was  indeed  a  faithful  disciple 
of  the  Savior. 

"In  all  his  actions  his  motives  were  the  highest  and 
purest  that  ever  actuated  any  human  being.  I  believe 
that  in  the  Church  of  Christ  there  was  no  one  greater 
in  the  eyes  of  God  than  our  beloved  Archbishop. 

"I  have  not  time  to  tell  you  the  story  of  his  noble  life. 
I  can  speak  only  the  sentiments  that  my  own  heart 
dictates.  I  probably  knew  the  Archbishop  more  inti- 
mately than  any  one,  and  during  all  the  years  that  I 
worked  with  him  I  never  knew  him  to  take  a  narrow 
view  of  anything  or  act  impulsively.  He  was  always 
calm,  careful,  considerate,  and  reason  guided  his  every 
action.  He  was  wise,  judicious  and  prudent,  and  he 


THE  VEKY  KEV.  M.  J.  FITZSIMMONS 
Vicar  General  of  Archbishop   Feehan  in  the  year   1900 


IKE  LIBRARY 

OF  THE 
URMERSItt  OF  ILUSQfS 


SICKNESS   AND   DEATH  323 

gave  to  this  diocese  the  best  administration  that  was 
ever  given  it. 

"His  heart  was  with  the  people  of  this  whole  arch- 
diocese, but  he  loved  especially  the  people  of  this  parish. 
Often  he  united  his  supplications  to  God  with  ours, 
and  as  he  knelt  there  by  his  throne  before  the  altar  of 
God  his  heart  went  out  in  love  for  his  parishioners. 

"We  shall  miss  him;  the  people  of  Chicago  shall  miss 
him ;  yes,  the  Catholic  Church  of  America  shall  miss  him, 
for  he  was  eminently  a  prince  of  the  Church.  Twenty- 
two  years  he  labored  among  us;  he  gave  this  diocese  an 
administration  second  to  none  in  any  See  of  the  world. 

"Most  ably  did  he  perform  his  labors  on  earth,  and 
now  he  has  gone  to  his  reward;  but  our  hearts  will  go 
with  him  to  the  throne  and  judgment  seat  of  God." 

The  comment  by  Luther  Laflin  Mills  in  the  Chicago 
American  of  July  14,  1902,  read  as  follows: 

"The  entire  community — citizens  of  every  class,  every 
creed  and  all  conditions — feel  the  great  loss  and  join  in 
mourning  over  the  sudden  death  of  Archbishop  Patrick 
A.  Feehan,  the  devoted  Churchman,  true  citizen  and 
noble  friend. 

"His  loss  is  mourned  alike  by  the  rich  and  the  poor, 
young  and  old,  humble  and  great,  Catholic  and  Prot- 
estant. All  mourn,  not  alone  because  he  was  the  highest 
representative  among  our  people  of  the  Church  in  which 
he  devoted  his  life,  but  because  of  his  noble  character, 
his  brilliant  mind  and  noble  deeds,  which  won  for  him 
the  love  and  the  admiration  of  all. 

"To  the  Catholics  of  Chicago,  of  the  United  States  and 
of  the  whole  world  the  death  of  this  great  leader  comes 
as  a  double  loss.  To  them  and  to  their  creed  he  was 
ever  true  and  faithful.  With  him  the  interests  of  the 
Church  were  always  first  and  uppermost,  and  he  never 


324      THE  LIFE  OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

wavered,  no  matter  what  the  task  or  how  great  the 
sacrifice. 

"But  the  Protestants — they  do  not  mourn  because  an 
archbishop  has  been  called  from  this  life.  They  mourn 
the  loss  of  a  great  man,  a  man  great  in  the  faith  in 
which  he  believed,  but  always  true  to  the  cause  of 
humanity,  the  creed  of  all  men  and  all  denominations. 

"They  mourn  for  Patrick  A.  Feehan,  the  true  Chris- 
tian, who,  devoted  as  he  always  was  to  the  Church  he 
represented,  was  broad  and  liberal  in  his  estimate  and 
treatment  of  those  who  were  adherents  of  other  reli- 
gious denominations. 

"During  his  long  residence  in  Chicago,  Patrick  A. 
Feehan  did  much  to  cultivate  a  spirit  of  fraternity  and 
Christian  love  among  all  Christian  believers.  He  was 
loved,  honored  and  respected  by  all,  and  his  death  came 
as  a  shock  wherever  his  noble  work  and  devotion  are 
known. 

"In  the  devoutness  of  his  life  Patrick  A.  Feehan  was 
a  constant  example  and  personal  guide  for  the  better 
living  of  the  thousands  with  whom  he  came  in  contact 
and  to  many  more  thousands  who  had  never  seen  him, 
yet  loved  him  for  what  he  had  done  for  the  betterment 
of  the  world. 

"The  charitable  heart  and  noble  deeds  of  this  great 
man;  his  ever  ready  hand  when  work  was  to  be  done  in 
the  cause  of  the  poor  and  unfortunate;  the  kind  words 
of  encouragement  and  love  which  were  left  wherever 
he  went,  were  a  blessing  to  the  world  for  which  he 
worked. 

"Patrick  A.  Feehan  will  be  remembered  and  mourned 
for  himself.  The  old  and  young  will  join  in  tributes 
of  praise,  tempered  by  words  of  grief  for  that  high  and 
honored,  as  well  as  most  able,  dignitary  of  the  Church 


SICKNESS   AND   DEATH  325 

he  represented  and  for  that  great  man  who  lived  a  pure 
and  beautiful  life  of  piety  and  philanthropy. 

"Living,  Patrick  A.  Feehan  devoted  his  time  and 
energy  to  the  humanity  he  loved.  Now  that  he  lies 
dead,  that  same  humanity  mourns  him  with  tears  that 
spring  from  loving  hearts  inspired  by  Christian  souls." 

For  days  the  remains  of  the  Archbishop  laid  in  state 
in  the  Cathedral  where  they  had  been  taken  by  a  pro- 
cession of  priests.  Thousands  of  grief  stricken  people 
formed  an  unbroken  procession,  threading  their  way 
continuously  around  the  bier,  their  heart-broken  sighs 
and  sobs  only  breaking  the  solemn  silence  of  the  scene. 
Men  and  women,  bending  under  the  weight  of  years, 
inmates  of  the  various  institutions  which  were  established 
and  fostered  by  the  Archbishop,  blended  their  tears  with 
those  of  devoted  nuns,  monks,  priests  and  laymen  of 
every  nationality.  Way  into  the  small  hours  of  the 
night  the  muffled  tread  of  these  thousands  of  grief- 
stricken  children  of  the  good  spiritual  Father  was  heard 
like  the  monotonous  swish  of  the  waves  lapping  the 
ocean's  sandy  belts.  From  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  poured  in  high  dignitaries,  priests  and  laymen  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  all  eager  to  look  for  the  last  time 
upon  the  benign  features  of  the  holy  man,  and  before 
the  altar  of  the  Cathedral,  which  he  honored  in  life,  to 
supplicate  the  Almighty  for  the  repose  of  his  soul. 

At  night  especially  was  this  scene  very  impressive. 
The  great  nave  of  the  Cathedral  was  dark  save  for  the 
candles  which  flickered  beside  the  casket;  on  either  side 
of  the  bier  stood  six  soldiers ;  below  stood  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  Catholic  societies  in  their  gorgeous  uni- 
forms; while  through  the  Cathedral  knelt  a  score  of 
priests,  who  prayed  during  the  long  night  as  they 
watched. 


326       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

The  body  of  the  Archbishop  was  dressed  in  his  epis- 
copal robes.  His  hands  were  folded  across  the  breast 
and  in  them  was  placed  the  cross  that  the  Archbishop 
for  so  many  years  had  worn  around  his  neck.  The 
casket,  which  was  of  carved  mahogany,  lined  with  cop- 
per, had  been  made  to  order.  As  soon  as  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  funeral  had  been  completed,  Bishop  Mul- 
doon  mailed  to  each  priest  in  the  diocese  a  copy  of  the 
following  letter: 

Rev.  Dear  Sir: 

The  funeral  service  of  our  beloved  Archbishop,  P.  A. 
Feehan,  will  be  held  at  the  Cathedral,  Thursday,  July 
15,  1902,  at  ten  A.  M.  The  decedent  will  be  removed 
from  his  residence  on  Tuesday  at  3:00  P.  M.,  and  as 
an  evidence  of  respect  all  the  clergy  and  brothers  are 
kindly  requested  to  be  at  the  residence  at  the  above 
named  hour,  where  they  will  form  in  procession  two 
by  two  and  proceed  to  the  Cathedral  as  escort.  To 
preserve  uniformity,  the  clergy  are  requested  to  wear 
a  Prince  Albert  coat  and,  as  far  as  possible,  a  silk  hat 
or  at  least  a  hat  with  mourning  band. 

The  Office  of  the  Dead  will  be  recited,  not  on  the  day 
of  the  funeral,  but  on  the  evening  preceding,  Wednes- 
day, at  8:00  P.  M.  The  clergy  will  assemble  in  the 
school  hall  at  7:30  P.  M.  and  vest  in  cassock  and  sur- 
plice and  then  proceed  in  procession  to  the  Cathedral 

On  Thursday  morning  the  procession  will  start  from 
the  school  hall  at  9:30  A.  M.  All  the  priests  except 
those  who  are  to  act  as  chaplains  will  meet  in  the  school 
hall  at  9 :00  A.  M.  The  funeral  cortege  will  move  one 
hour  after  the  conclusion  of  the  church  ceremonies. 

The  funeral  will  be  at  Calvary.  Owing  to  the  limited 
accommodations,  admission  to  the  Cathedral  will  be  by 


SICKNESS   AND   DEATH  327 

ticket,  and  two  tickets  will  be  sent  to  each  pastor  in  the 
diocese  for  his  parishioners. 

P.  J.  MULDOON, 

Administrator. 

Before  proceeding  with  a  description  of  the  solemn 
and  imposing  funeral  service,  I  wish  to  insert  here  a 
short  review  of  the  work  of  Archbishop  Feehan  in  the 
Chicago  diocese.  During  the  twenty-two  years  of  his 
administration  the  growth  of  Catholicism  in  the  arch- 
diocese assumed  phenomenal  proportions.  In  Catholic 
population  and  number  of  churches  the  increase  was 
threefold.  In  1880,  there  were  but  fifty  Catholic 
Churches  in  Chicago;  there  were  only  a  few  parochial 
schools,  and  the  number  of  academies  and  colleges  was 
insignificant. 

The  following  statistical  table  exhibits  the  status  of 
the  archdiocese  in  1880  and  in  1901,  and  is  taken  from 
the  Catholic  Directory  of  the  years  1881  and  1902. 

STATUS    OF  THE    ARCHDIOCESE   OF   CHICAGO! 

1881  1902 

Archbishop    1  1 

Bishops  . .  2 

Mitred  Abbot . .  1 

Secular  Priests 153  379 

Priests  of  Religious  Orders ,  62  159 

Total   215  538 

Churches  with  resident  priest . .  247 

Missions  with  churches  . .  51 

Stations  ' . .  17 

Chapels . .  48 

Total  churches   200  363 

Ecclesiastical  Students 34  130 

Seminaries  of  Religious  Orders '  . .  2 

Students  ..  65 

Colleges  and  Academies  for  boys  ...  2  7 

Students  ..  1,048 

Academies  for  young  ladies 15  21 

Females  educated  in  higher 

branches . .  3,511 


328       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Parishes  and  missions  with  parochial 

schools    . .  166 

Pupils   26,000  62,723 

Convents    13 

Orphan  Asylums 3  6 

Orphans   . .  1,156 

Infant  Asylum . .  1 

Inmates . .  200 

Industrial  and  Reform  Schools 4  4 

Inmates . .  855 

Homes  for  the  aged  poor 1  4 

Hospitals    3  11 

Other  charitable  institutions 2  3 

Total  of  young  people  under  Catholic 

care  ..  80,000 

Catholic  population 230,000  800,000 

Said  the  "Inter-Ocean"  on  the  day  of  the  Archbishop's 
death:  "The  late  Archbishop  Feehan's  life  was  a  most 
eventful  one  and  his  work  in  Chicago  gives  some  idea 
of  the  capabilities  of  the  man.  He  entered  upon  his 
labors  when  the  city  was  making  its  greatest  strides  and 
the  immigration  of  Roman  Catholics  to  this  diocese  was 
at  its  fullest.  The  problem  of  establishing  church  serv- 
ices and  schools  in  different  languages  was  growing  in 
importance.  The  financial  question  of  permitting  new 
parishes  to  buy  property  and  build,  and  how  far  they 
should  be  permitted  to  buy,  was  a  feature  of  the  com- 
plex problem.  The  ordination  for  each  church  of  a 
priest  using  the  same  language  as  its  parishioners  was 
a  necessity.  The  establishment  of  schools  before 
churches  should  be  built,  was  a  policy  on  which  the 
Archbishop  insisted. 

It  was  the  ability  to  solve  these  great  questions,  as 
well  as  his  personal  qualities,  which  endeared  him  to  the 
hearts  of  the  Catholics  of  Chicago.  He  preserved  unity 
and  harmony  in  this  diocese  by  giving  to  the  different 
nationalities  the  service  of  the  Church,  their  own  schools, 
and  priests  of  their  own  tongue." 


SICKNESS  AND   DEATH  329 

In  the  same  number  of  the  above  mentioned  paper 
was  also  found  the  following  tribute  to  the  Archbishop's 
charity,  by  Representative  M.  J.  Kelly.  He  held  that 
Chicago  had  lost  one  of  its  best  citizens  and  the  Irish 
people  their  best  friend.  "I  knew  Archbishop  Feehan," 
he  said,  "since  he  first  came  to  Chicago  and  had  learned 
to  love  him  for  the  kindly  acts  he  had  done  for  people 
of  all  creeds.  I  remember  an  instance  when  I  called  at 
the  home  of  the  Archbishop  on  business.  We  were 
seated  in  a  bay-window  overlooking  a  path  that  led  to 
the  house.  While  we  were  talking  an  elderly  man  came 
up  the  path  and  rang  the  door  bell.  The  Archbishop 
noticed  the  man  and  after  he  had  rung  the  bell  went 
into  the  hall  to  where  one  of  the  servants  was  talking 
to  him  at  the  open  door.  The  day  was  cold  and  con- 
siderable snow  lay  on  the  ground.  The  man  was  beg- 
ging, and  when  he  asked  for  something  to  eat  the  Arch- 
bishop instructed  the  servant  to  let  him  in  and  feed  him. 
As  the  man  passed  the  Archbishop  noticed  that  he 
limped,  whereupon  he  caught  his  arm  and  asked  what 
crippled  him.  'My  feet  are  frozen,'  the  man  said  as 
he  exhibited  a  pair  of  shoes  that  were  full  of  holes,  and 
had  hardly  a  sole  left  on  them.  The  age  and  miserable 
condition  of  the  man  touched  the  Archbishop  so  that 
he  kept  him  at  his  house  for  several  days,  and  then, 
finally,  obtained  a  position  for  him  as  sexton  in  one  of 
the  churches." 

The  "Record  Herald"  contained  among  other  trib- 
utes the  following:  "There  was  no  man  in  Chicago 
more  popular  with  policemen  than  the  late  Archbishop. 
He  was  known  to  every  bluecoat  that  ever  traveled  out 
of  the  Larrabee  Street  station  as  the  soul  of  hospital- 
ity. The  officer  who  traveled  the  post  which  included 
the  archiepiscopal  residence  was  considered  a  fortunate 


330       THE  LIFE   OF  ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

man  by  his  comrades.  Many  years  ago  His  Grace  gave 
orders  to  those  in  charge  of  his  cuisine  that  the  police- 
man on  the  beat  must  be  taken  care  of,  and  as  the  orders 
were  never  rescinded  the  cook  saw  to  it  that  a  good 
lunch  was  always  got  out  for  the  preserver  of  the  peace. 

Many  an  evening  in  summer  the  Archbishop  would 
be  waiting  for  the  policeman  on  the  beat  to  join  him  in 
his  walk  around  his  post,  and  he  was  deeply  interested 
in  everything  that  pertained  to  police  matters.  He 
often  talked  of  the  causes  that  led  young  men,  and 
women,  too,  to  enter  upon  a  life  of  crime." 

True,  Archbishop  Feehan  contributed  little  or  noth- 
ing to  the  literary  or  controversial  riches  of  Catholi- 
cism. He  never  delivered  what  one  may  call  a  famous 
sermon  nor  by  stroke  of  pen  or  word  of  mouth,  incurred 
the  ephemeral  plaudits  of  either  publicist  or  public. 
But,  although  lacking  in  all  of  those  striking  gifts  which 
have  made  for  the  temporal  eminence  of  so  many  of  his 
ecclesiastical  contemporaries,  Feehan  transcended  them 
all  in  three  qualities  which  cannot  be  measured  by  the 
small  standards  of  popular  appreciation.  In  wise  and 
unstudied  humility;  in  calm,  confident,  and  yet  wholly 
simple  spirituality;  in  a  loving  tenderness  for  all  hu- 
manity which,  in  its  incessant  and  intense  manifesta- 
tion, in  its  unutterable  gentleness,  and  in  its  exquisite 
unselfishness,  made  of  him  the  ideal  of  the  priesthood, 
transfiguring  his  whole  character  with  a  glory  beside 
which  the  pomp  of  princes  and  the  meteoric  brilliance 
of  mere  intellectual  achievement  seem  small  and  cheap 
indeed. 

Follows  a  selection  from  the  letters  of  condolence  and 
telegrams  received,  regarding  the  death  of  the  Arch- 
bishop, as  they  appeared  in  the  "New  World"  at  the 
time. 


SICKNESS  AND   DEATH  331 

Ottawa,  July  15,  1902. 
To  the  Right  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon, 

Bishop  of  Tamasensis,  Chicago,  111. 
My  Dear  Lord: 

With  sentiments  of  deep  sympathy  I  beg  leave  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  telegram  regarding  the 
death  of  His  Grace  the  Archbishop.  May  God  grant 
eternal  rest  to  his  soul.  I  sincerely  regret  that  matters 
over  which  I  have  no  control  prevent  me  from  assisting 
at  his  funeral. 

Praying  Almighty  God  to  bestow  upon  you  His 
choicest  blessings,  I  beg  to  remain, 

Truly  Yours  in  Christ, 

D.  FALCONIO, 
Archbishop  of  Larijsa,  Apostolic  Delegate. 


Montreal,  July  16,  1902. 

To  the  Right  Reverend  Peter  J.  Muldoon,  D.  D., 
Titular  Bishop  of  Tamasensis, 

Auxiliary  Bishop  of  Chicago. 
My  Dear  Lord  Bishop: 

On  returning  home  from  my  pastoral  visitation  I 
learned  the  sad  tidings  of  the  death  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
han.  I  offer  you  and  the  Catholics  of  Chicago  my 
heartfelt  sympathy  in  the  loss  which  you  have  sustained. 
Owing  to  my  numerous  appointments,  prior  to  my  de- 
parture for  Europe  next  week,  it  will  be  impossible  for 
me  to  attend  the  funeral  obsequies.  Still  I  shall  not 
fail  to  pray  for  the  repose  of  Chicago's  eminent  Prelate. 
May  his  soul  rest  in  peace. 

Yours  faithfully  in  Christ, 

PAUL  BRUCHESI, 
Archbishop  of  Montreal. 


332       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Toronto,  July  15,  1902. 
Right  Reverend  Bishop  Muldoon. 
My  Lord: 

I  am  much  pained  to  hear  of  the  death  of  your  good 
Archbishop,  of  whose  illness  I  had  not  even  heard.  I 
offer  to  you  and  the  clergy  my  deepest  sympathy.  I 
shall  not  be  able  to  attend  the  funeral,  but  on  that  day 
I  shall  offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice  for  the  repose  of  his 
soul. 

Praying  God  to  give  the  deceased  a  worthy  successor, 
I  remain,  my  Lord, 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

DENNIS  O'CONNOR, 

Archbishop  of  Toronto. 


Rochester,  N.  Y.,  July  14,  1902. 
My  Dear  Bishop: 

I  see  by  the  papers  this  morning  that  the  funeral  of 
the  late  Archbishop  will  take  place  on  Thursday.  I  have 
tried  to  see  my  way  to  be  able  to  be  present,  but  appoint- 
ments and  work  at  home  will  deprive  me  of  an  oppor- 
tunity of  showing  publicly  my  esteem  and  veneration  for 
the  distinguished  and  worthy  Prelate,  for  whom  I  enter- 
tained the  highest  regard. 

This  morning  I  offered  up  the  Holy  Sacrifice  for  the 
repose  of  his  soul. 

Very  sincerely  in  Christ, 

B.  J.  McQuAiD, 

Bishop  of  Rochester. 


Montreal,  July  16,  1902. 
Right  Reverend  Dear  Bishop: 

Not  being  able  to  attend  the  funeral  of  your  late 
lamented  Archbishop,  I  write  you  a  line  from  here,  on 


SICKNESS   AND   DEATH  333 

my  way  to  Ste.  Anne,  to  express  to  you  and  to  the  great 
archdiocese  of  Chicago  the  sympathy  I  feel  for  you  in 
your  loss.  Archbishop  Feehan  has  done  an  apostle's 
work  in  the  large  and  growing  diocese  entrusted  to  his 
care  for  so  many  years.  His  zeal  for  the  Catholic  edu- 
cation of  the  new  generations  suffices  alone  to  endear 
his  name  to  the  faithful  of  America  and  to  the  Church 
everywhere.  May  his  meek  spirit  enjoy  the  peace  of 
the  Lord! 

Fraternally  yours  in  J.  C., 

H.  GABRIELS, 
Bishop  of  Ogdenburg. 


Worcester,  Mass.,  July  16,  1902. 
Monseigneur: 

With  the  Episcopate  of  the  United  States  I  regret 
and  mourn  the  death  of  the  great  Archbishop  of  Chi- 
cago. Important  and  necessary  imperative  business  has 
kept  me  away  from  home. 

Yours  truly  in  J.  C., 

JOHN  C.  MICHAUD,     . 
Bishop  of  Burlington,  Vt. 


Chicago,  111.,  July  14,  1902. 
Rt.  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  D.  D. 
My  Dear  Bishop: 

I  have  just  at  this  moment  returned  from  Wisconsin, 
where  I  have  been  spending  a  few  days  since  the  Con- 
ference, and  am  on  way  tonight  to  Denver,  Colo.,  where 
I  have  University  work  to  do  on  Wednesday  and  Thurs- 
day. 

I  write  to  extend  my  very  sincere  sympathy  to  your- 
self and  the  diocese  in  the  death  of  the  good  Archbishop, 

23 


334       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

and  I  regret  exceedingly  that  my  engagement  at  Den- 
ver prevents  my  being  present  at  his  funeral. 
With  much  esteem,  I  am 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

THOMAS  J.  CONATY, 
President  of  Washington  University. 


Cleveland,  July  16,  1902. 
My  dear  Bishop  Muldoon: 

I  have  just  returned  from  Toledo  and  Sandusky  and 
find  your  two  telegrams  about  dear  Archbishop  Fee- 
han's  death.  I  remembered  him  this  morning,  will  say 
Mass  for  him  tomorrow.  Official  appointments  will 
prevent  my  being  present  at  the  funeral.  Requiescat 
in  pace !  and  may  the  Holy  Spirit  appoint  his  successor 
for  the  great  Archdiocese  of  Chicago. 

Please  tell  Archbishop  Ryan  why  I  have  not  come. 
Sincerely  Yours  in  J.  C., 

IGN.  F.  HORSTMANN, 

Bishop  of  Cleveland. 


Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  15,  1902. 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Muldoon,  Cathedral. 

Just  boarding  train  to  attend  funeral  of  your  la- 
mented Archbishop.  Serious  strike  threatened.  Re- 
quested to  act  as  arbitrator.  May  yet  reach  in  time  for 
funeral. 

BISHOP  BURKE. 


The  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Muldoon, 

Chicago. 
Dear  Sir: 

The  news  of  the  sudden  demise  of  the  head  of  this 
Archdiocese,  the  Most  Rev.  Patrick  A.  Feehan,  has 


SICKNESS   AND   DEATH  335 

filled  my  heart  with  deepest  sorrow,  and  has  brought 
back  to  my  recollection  the  numerous  incidents  of  gen- 
uine interest  which  the  deceased  always  showed  to  the 
numerous  Austrians  and  Hungarians  in  Chicago  who 
are  members  of  our  Holy  Church. 

I  join  you,  and  all  the  other  Catholics  of  Chicago,  in 
prayer  for  the  soul  of  the  late  lamented  Archbishop,  and 
beg  of  you  to  accept  from  me  the  assurance  of  my  most 
distinguished  consideration  for  your  Grace. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  LEHWEZEL, 
Acting  Consul-General  of  Austria-Hungary. 


Denver,  Colo.,  July  14,  1902. 
Rev.  Bishop  P.  J.  Muldoon 
of  St.  Charles  Borromeo: 

The  delegates  from  Illinois  of  the  Ladies'  Auxiliary 
and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  beg  to  express 
their  sympathy  and  sense  of  loss  sustained  by  the  order 
in  the  death  of  Archbishop  Feehan. 
JOHN  F.  QUINN., 

State  President. 
D.  S.  TWOHY, 

State  Secretary. 
JOHN  BIGANE, 

President  of  Cook  County. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 
THE  SOLEMN  FUNERAL 

A  MOST  IMPOSING  CEREMONY — OFFICERS  OF  THE  MASS — DIG- 
NITARIES PRESENT — SERMON  BY  ARCHBISHOP  RYAN — THE 
RELATIVES  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP — PROCESSION  TO  THE  CEME- 
TERY— REMOVAL  OF  THE  BODY — THE  MONUMENT. 

ON  July  15,  1902,  the  "Chronicle"  said  editorially: 
"Chicago's  estimate  of  the  late  Archbishop  Feehan  will 
be  shown  in  the  magnitude  of  the  funeral  which  will  be 
given  him.  It  is  probable  that  the  obsequies  will  sur- 
pass any  similar  ceremony  in  the  history  of  the  city. 

Perhaps  respect  is  the  sentiment  which  was  most  gen- 
erally held  towards  Archbishop  Feehan.  Naturally 
dignified  almost  to  the  point  of  austerity,  he  evoked  the 
veneration  rather  than  the  affection  of  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  He  was  tenacious  of  his  spiritual 
authority,  which  he  deemed  a  Divine  trust. 

In  this  as  in  other  matters  Archbishop  Feehan  was 
inflexible,  He  would  not  temporize.  For  him  it  was 
enough  that  he  held  the  approval  of  his  conscience.  He 
held  his  way  serenely  and  unfalteringly  regardless  of 
consequences.  This  was  the  spirit  of  the  early  Fathers 
of  the  Church,  of  whom  Archbishop  Feehan  was  no 
unworthy  descendant." 

The  ceremony  which  took  place  in  the  Holy  Name 
Cathedral  on  July  17,  1902,  was  indeed  the  most  im- 
posing that  ever  had  been  witnessed  on  the  American 
continent.  Pontifical  High  Mass  of  Requiem  was  cele- 
brated in  the  presence  of  an  immense  assemblage  of 
distinguished  prelates,  priests,  members  of  religious 
orders  and  laity.  At  9:45  o'clock  the  procession,  com- 

336 


THE   SOLEMN   FUNERAL  337 

posed  of  800  priests,  preceded  by  cross-bearer  and  aco- 
lytes, wended  its  way  from  the  Cathedral  Hall  along 
Cass  Street  to  the  Cathedral  rectory,  where  the  Cardinal, 
archbishops  and  bishops  fell  into  line  and  proceeded  to 
the  main  entrance  of  the  Cathedral. 

The  clergy  officiating  at  the  Mass  were: 
Celebrant,  Rt.  Rev.  J.  L.  Spalding,  D.  D.,  of  Peoria. 
Assistant  Priest,  Very  Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons,  of  the 

Cathedral. 

Deacon  of  the  Mass,  Rev.  P.  Fisher,  St.  Anthony's. 
Sub-deacon  of  the  Mass,  Rev.  E.  A.  Kelly,  St.  Cecilia's. 
Masters  of  Ceremonies,  Rev.  N.  J.  Mooney,  St.  Columb- 

kill's,  and  Rev.  E.  M.  Griffin,  Annunciation. 
Acolytes,  Rev.  J.  J.  Jennings,  Presentation;  Rev.  P. 

Rhode,  South  Chicago;  Rev.  M.  T.  Mackin,  St. 

Brendan's. 
Thurifers,  Rev.  J.  J.  Morissey,  St.  Rose  of  Lima's, 

and  Rev.  T.  Bobal,  St.  Cyril  and  Methodius. 
Cross-bearer,  Rev.  T.  E.  Cox,  St.  Jarlath's. 

Church  dignitaries  present  were : 
Cardinal  Gibbons,  Chaplains,  Revs.  D.  J.  Riordan,  and 

A.  L.  Bergeron. 

Archbishop  Ryan,  Chaplain,  Rev.  E.  A.  Murphy. 
Archbishop  Ireland,  Chaplain,  Rev.  J.  M.  Dunne. 
Archbishop  Keans,  St.  Louis. 
Archbishop  Elder,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Bishop  Fitzmaurice,  Erie,  Pa.,  Chaplain,  Rev.  A.  K. 

Meyer,  S.  J. 

Bishop  Richter,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 
Bishop  Cunningham,  Concordia,  Kansas. 
Bishop  Hennessey,  Wichita,  Kansas. 
Bishop  Ryan,  Alton,  111. ;  Chaplain,  Rev.  T.  O'Gara. 
Bishop  Janssen,  Belleville,  111.;  Chaplain,  Rev.  G.  D. 

Heldman. 


338       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Bishop  Dunne,  Dallas,  Texas;  Chaplain,  Rev.  P.  M. 

Flannagan. 

Bishop  McGavick,  Chicago;  Chaplain,  Rev.  B.   Gil- 
martin. 
Bishop  Burke,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.;    Chaplain,    Rev.    A. 

Vandelaar. 
Bishop  O'Donoghue,  Indianapolis;  Chaplain,  Rev.  P.  C. 

Conway. 

Bishop  Scannell,  Omaha;  Chaplain,  Rev.  D.  Hayes. 
Bishop  Foley,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Chaplain,  Rev.  M.  J. 

Dorney. 
Bishop  Glennon,  Kansas  City;  Chaplain,  Rev.  J.  Mc- 

Cann. 
Bishop  Alerding,   Fort   Wayne;    Chaplain,   Rev.    T. 

O'Sullivan. 
Bishop  Burke,  Albany;  Chaplain,  Rev.  F.  S.  Henne- 

berry. 
Bishop  Schwebach,  LaCrosse,  Wis.;  Chaplain,  Rev.  A. 

Evers. 
Bishop  Byrne,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Chaplain,    Rev.    J. 

Cartan. 
Bishop  Trobec,  St.  Cloud,  Minn.;  Chaplain,  Rev.  M. 

Farnick. 
Bishop  Eiss,  Marquette,  Mich.;    Chaplain,    Rt.    Rev. 

Mgr.  Langnier,  V.  G. 
Bishop  Quigley,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  Jaeger,  O.  S.  B.;  Chaplain,  Rev.  Boni- 
face Verhegen. 

The  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Most  Rev.  Arch- 
bishop Ryan  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  is  here  recorded 
in  full.  It  was  a  tribute  to  the  greatness  of  the  good 
Archbishop;  it  was  so  eloquent  and  just,  so  replete  with 
the  pathos  of  poignant  grief  whilst  urging  a  humble 
submission  to  the  will  of  God,  that  it  will  never  be  for- 


THE   SOLEMN   FUNERAL  339 

gotten  by  the  vast  concourse  of  mourners  who  listened 
with  bowed  heads  and  rapt  attention  to  the  consoling 
words  as  they  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  great  orator. 
Sermon  preached  by  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Ryan 
of  Philadelphia,  at  the  funeral  of  His  Grace,  Arch- 
bishop Patrick  A.  Feehan. 

Text :  "Behold  a  great  priest  who  in  his  time  pleased 
God,  and  was  found  just;  and  in  the  time  of  wrath  be- 
came an  atonement.  There  were  none  found  like  him 
in  observing  the  law  of  the  Most  High.  Therefore  by 
an  oath  did  the  Lord  make  him  great  amongst  his  peo- 
ple. He  gave  him  the  blessing  of  all  nations,  and  estab- 
lished his  covenant  on  his  head.  He  acknowledged  him 
in  his  blessings;  he  stored  up  his  mercy  for  him;  and 
he  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord."  (Ecclesiasti- 
cus,  44th  Chapter.) 

"Venerable  Fathers  of  the  Episcopate  and  Clergy  and 
dear  brethren  of  the  Laity : 

"The  words  of  inspiration  which  I  have  read  are  those 
that  bound  naturally  from  the  heart  and  the  lips,  as 
we  gaze  on  the  lifeless  body  still  clothed  in  the  vest- 
ments of  his  order,  of  the  great  priest  who  ruled  from 
this  place  one  of  the  greatest  cities  and  dioceses  in  the 
world.  He  pleased  God  in  his  day,  and  appeased  His 
anger,  and  kept  the  law  of  the  Most  High.  Therefore, 
did  God  increase  in  numbers  and  sanctity,  and  bless  the 
people  committed  to  his  care. 

"We  are  here  for  two  purposes — first  to  pray  for  your 
dear  dead  Archbishop,  which  you  have  done  during  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  just  offered,  and  which  I  am  sure  you 
will  continue  to  do  as  the  best  expression  of  your  love 
for  him  and  sense  of  your  loss.  We  have  come  also  to 
think  together  and  to  recall  what  we  know  of  his  char- 
acter, and  his  career,  as  justifying  our  admiration  and 


340       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

our  gratitude.  I  come  from  afar  to  lay  at  his  feet  the 
garland  of  my  esteem  and  my  love. 

"For  fifty  years  I  have  known  him,  and  never  dis- 
covered anything  to  diminish,  but  much  to  intensify,  the 
impression  produced  on  me  at  our  first  introduction. 
The  natural  basis  of  his  character  was  such  as  we  would 
expect  in  a  great  ecclesiastic.  Gentle,  pure,  yet  with  a 
power  that  was  almost  provokingly  reserved,  you  felt 
yourself  in  the  presence  at  once  of  a  superior  personal- 
ity. You  felt  that  behind  that  silent  modest  exterior 
there  was  a  power  that  in  a  great  exigency  might  be  a 
revelation.  You  felt  how  consummate  were  his  judg- 
ment and  prudence  and  how  perfectly  he  could  be 
trusted.  He  was  pre-eminently  the  gentleman — gentle 
and  yet  manly — manly  and  yet  gentle.  The  most  per- 
fect human  character  had  its  human  individuality  for 
he  was  like  unto  us  in  all  things  except  sin.  Because 
the  natural  basis  of  characters  like  those  of  St.  Francis 
of  Assisi  for  instance,  is  so  like  that  of  Christ,  the  peo- 
ple of  all  denominations  admire  and  love  him.  The 
rare  combination  of  such  characteristics  was  found  to 
a  great  extent  in  the  late  Archbishop.  God  having  so 
fashioned  him,  He  gradually  prepared  him  by  providen- 
tial— apparently  accidental — circumstances  for  the  ex- 
alted position  for  which  he  was  called. 

"We  find  him  at  an  early  age  at  the  admirable  Sem- 
inary of  St.  Vincent,  Castle  Knock,  near  Dublin.  The 
priests  who  conducted  it,  were  men  fully  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul.  That  great  Saint  is  popu- 
larly regarded  but  as  a  mighty  philanthropist,  founder  of 
the  Sisters  of  Charity  and  many  benevolent  institutions ; 
but  more  than  all  this,  he  was  a  great  reformer  in  the 
true  sense  of  the  word.  He  was  a  reformer  from  with- 
in. He  knew  that  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  needed 


THE   SOLEMN   FUNERAL  341 

no  change,  for  God  Himself  had  formed  her.  But  he 
knew  that  the  morals  of  men  needed  reformation,  and 
he  believed  that,  'as  the  clergy  so  the  people,'  and  the 
great  change  must  begin  in  the  Sanctuary.  But  farther 
back,  he  knew  that,  'as  the  ecclesiastical  student  so  the 
priest,'  and  he  ascended  to  the  fountain  spring  and  re- 
formed the  seminaries. 

"In  one  of  these  this  young  student  received  his  first 
impression  of  the  great  National  Seminary  of  May- 
nooth  with  its  500  students  from  every  diocese  in  Ire- 
land. In  this  great  institution  his  remarkable  talents, 
in  spite  of  his  modesty,  made  him  a  marked  man,  and 
he  received  some  of  the  highest  honors  and  premiums. 
The  fact  that  among  500  students  selected  for  their 
superior  abilities  from  every  portion  of  an  island  famed 
for  the  talents  of  its  children,  he  was  so  honored,  is  an 
unerring  criterion  of  genuine  merit.  At  the  same  time, 
his  personal  character  was  as  high,  if  not  higher,  than 
his  literary  position.  Men  instinctively  trusted  him  and 
sought  his  counsel. 

"At  the  head  of  this  great  institution  of  ecclesiastical 
learning  was  a  man  of  transcendent  merit,  the  Very 
Rev.  Dr.  Russell,  uncle  of  the  late  Lord  Russell,  of  Kil- 
lowen,  the  Chief  Justice  of  England.  Cardinal  New- 
man stated  that  to  this  Doctor  Russell  more  than  to 
any  other  man,  he  owed  his  conversion  to  the  Catholic 
Church. 

"When  young,  Mr.  Feehan  determined  to  come  to 
St.  Louis,  and  this  president  of  Maynooth  gave  him  a 
letter  to  Archbishop  Kenrick,  in  which  he  stated  that 
no  student  had  left  that  college  in  his  day  with  a  higher 
record  of  ability,  and  the  ecclesiastical  spirit,  than  the 
bearer.  Archbishop  Kenrick  soon  discovered  for  him- 
self the  truth  of  this  statement,  and  appointed  him  at 


342       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

first  professor  of  theology,  and  then  rector  of  his  dioc- 
esan seminary. 

"During  the  thirteen  years  of  his  priestly  career  in 
St.  Louis,  in  the  seminary  and  on  the  mission,  I  knew 
him  intimately,  and  had  ample  opportunity  to  judge 
him,  and  in  trying  circumstances  he  was  always  the  same 
strong,  gentle,  self-possessed,  self-sacrificing  priest. 
After  these  thirteen  years  he  was  elected  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-five,  to  be  Bishop  of  Nashville — a  post  of 
much  responsibility  at  the  time.  With  admirable  pru- 
dence he  restored  order  and  confidence.  In  the  trying 
times  following  the  war,  he  had  much  to  suffer  and  was 
extremely  poor.  During  the  dreadful  visitation  of  the 
yellow  fever  he  saw  his  priests  and  people  fall  around 
him,  and  his  great  paternal  heart  was  moved  to  pity  and 
to  succor. 

"After  fifteen  years  of  successful  administration  in 
Nashville,  he  came  to  this  city  as  its  first  Archbishop 
in  1880.  You,  brethren,  are  the  witnesses  of  his  life 
and  labors  here.  I  need  not  enter  into  details.  A  few 
facts  are  sufficient  and  suggestive  of  many  others.  In 
1879,  the  year  before  his  arrival,  there  were  in  the  diocese 
of  Chicago  204  priests.  Today  there  are  538.  In  1879, 
there  were  194  churches.  Now  298.  In  this  city  alone 
there  were  only  34  churches.  Now  150.  I  know  of 
nothing  in  any  city  of  this  or  any  other  country  to  even 
approach  this  last  item  of  progress. 

"The  advance  in  the  all-important  department  of 
parochial  schools,  colleges,  benevolent  institutions  has 
been  in  proportion  to  the  clergy  and  churches.  The  Arch- 
bishop's first  solicitude  on  arriving  in  Chicago  was  con- 
cerning the  schools  which  he  visited  in  person.  Those 
who  beheld  the  splendid  exhibit  of  Catholic  schools  in 
the  Columbian  Exposition  of  1893,  will  remember  the 


THE   SOLEMN   FUNERAL  343 

strikingly  beautiful,  life-size  statue  of  Archbishop  Fee- 
han  in  Carrara  marble  presented  to  him  by  his  priests 
and  bearing  the  inscription,  'The  Protector  of  our 
Schools.'  No  more  glorious  monument  could  be  erected 
to  any  man,  and  I  trust  that  it  will  always  occupy  a 
prominent  place  in  this  great  city. 

"Few  people  know  and  still  fewer  appreciate  the  silent 
labor  and  mental  strain  unavoidable  in  the  establishment 
of  so  many  churches,  schools  and  institutions.  People 
judge  by  newspaper  accounts  of  the  movements  of 
bishops  on  occasions  of  Confirmations  and  Visitations, 
etc.,  but  the  silent  home  work  which  is  little  noticed,  is 
the  severest  of  all.  And  we  must  bear  in  mind  that, 
unlike  the  bishops  in  any  other  country  of  the  world, 
the  prelates  who  rule  in  our  great  cities,  and  this  is 
especially  true  here,  have  to  deal  with  people  of  many 
diverse  nationalities.  The  Church  in  a  city  like  this  is 
similar  to  the  whole  Catholic  Church  in  miniature.  It 
combines  two  of  the  marks  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
proofs  of  its  Divine  origin,  its  Catholicity  and  Unity. 
We  behold  in  her  all  the  discordant  elements  of  the 
world  unified  into  one  institution.  Now  in  our  great 
cities  we  behold  so  many  diverse  nationalities  in  the 
same  faith  and  same  essential  discipline  and  under  one 
head. 

"But,  of  course,  the  human  elements  are  there  and 
cause  differences  of  a  minor,  but  often  of  a  vexatious 
character.  Similar  difficulties  are  found  in  the  political 
mission  of  the  United  States  in  unifying  all  the  different 
nationalities.  *E  pluribus  unum'  is  Catholicity  and 
Unity  in  the  State.  Some  one  may  urge  the  only  way 
in  both  cases  is  to  thoroughly  and  immediately  Amer- 
icanize politically  as  well  religiously.  But  prudence 
says  be  slow  in  this  process;  old  prejudices  and  old  ways 


344      THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

cannot  be  rudely  interfered  with.  Do  not  tear  up  the 
cockle  lest  the  wheat  should  also  be  destroyed. 

"The  bishop,  like  a  good  father,  has  to  respect  all  his 
children  united  'in  the  consanguinity  of  the  Faith.' 
Their  language  hallowed  by  a  thousand  sanctifying 
associations  must  be  respected;  their  old  customs  and 
wise  old  laws,  often  the  accumulated  wisdom  of  cen- 
turies, have  a  conservative  influence  on  our  later  and 
more  material  civilization.  There  must  be,  of  course, 
progress  but  it  should  be  gradual,  conservative  prog- 
ress to  be  truly  permanent  and  to  attain  the  final  end 
of  being  at  once  truly  Catholic  and  truly  American. 

"But,  venerable  Fathers  and  dear  Brethren,  no  char- 
acter and  career  can  be  perfected  without  the  chasten- 
ing hand  of  suffering.  This  was  not  wanting  to  our 
dear  father  and  friend.  His  was  one  of  those  high 
natures  that  are  deeply,  silently  sensitive.  He  com- 
plained little,  but  bled  internally,  and  only  God  wit- 
nessed the  heart  struggle.  The  greatest,  heaviest  cross 
of  his  life  he  had  to  bear  on  shoulders  worn  out  by  the 
burdens  of  seventy  years.  This  is  not  a  fit  occasion 
to  discuss  the  sad  episode.*  I  feel  that  I  act  more  in 
harmony  with  his  nature  and  with  what  he  would  say  to 
me,  by  stating  that  there  from  his  bier  he  whispers  to 
all  who  loved  or  opposed  him  the  episcopal  salutation, 
'Pax  Vobis,' — 'Peace  be  to  all.'  Only  pray  for  me  and 
ask  our  Heavenly  Father  that  He  send  a  successor  who 
will  love  the  people,  and  especially  the  little  children 
whom  I  leave  behind  me,  that  we  may  all  meet  in  the 
eternal  home  of  God.  Amen." 

James,  Cardinal  Gibbons,  Primate  of  the  American 


*  The  Rt.  Rev.  speaker  here  refers  to  a  coterie  of  priests  who  en- 
deavored to  impress  their  •will  upon  the  Archbishop  in  the  selection 
of  an  Auxiliary,  and  when  they  failed  in  their  endeavors,  created  grave 
scandal  by  ventilating  their  views  in  the  public  press.  (The  Author)  — 
See  Appendix,  Nos.  7-8. 


MOTHEE  MARY  CATHERINE  FEEHAN 
Superior   of   St.   Patrick's   Academy 


THE   SOLEMN   FUNERAL  345 

Church,  pronounced  then  the  last  absolution,  as  did  the 
four  suffragan  bishops  of  the  archdiocese — Bishop 
Spalding,  Bishop  Muldoon,  Bishop  Ryan  of  Alton, 
and  Bishop  J.  Janssen  of  Belleville.  After  this 
the  prelates  and  priests  all  knelt  at  the  bier  of  the 
dead  Archbishop,  and  while  the  Cardinal,  the  Bishops 
and  the  Clergy  were  preparing  for  the  journey  to  the 
cemetery,  those  in  the  Church  were  given  the  oppor- 
tunity to  view  the  face  of  the  Archbishop.  Slowly,  the 
members  of  the  religious  order  and  of  the  laity  filed 
past  the  bier  and  gazed  once  again  and  for  the  last  time 
upon  the  face  of  their  beloved  superior  and  friend. 

The  relatives  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  who  during  the 
services  had  occupied  pews  close  to  the  bier,  were: 
Mother  Catherine,  Superior  of  St.  Patrick's  Academy, 
and  Miss  Kate  Feehan,  sisters;  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Feehan, 
widow  of  the  Archbishop's  brother;  Sister  Ambrose  of 
St.  Catherine's  and  Sister  Edward  of  St.  Patrick's;  the 
Misses  May  and  Annie  Feehan,  nieces;  Edward  and 
P.  H.  Feehan,  nephews;  and  J.  H.  Locke,  John  Bennan 
and  Miss  Nellie  Bennan,  cousins. 

At  1 :15  P.  M.  began  the  sad  journey  to  the  tomb  in 
Calvary  Cemetery,  where  the  remains  of  the  Archbishop 
were  temporarily  placed.  The  procession  to  the  cem- 
etery was  composed  of  an  immense  number  of  people, 
whilst  throngs  lined  the  streets  and  stood  with  bared 
heads,  in  reverential  silence,  as  the  cortege  passed  slowly 
along.  The  order  of  the  procession  was  as  follows : 

Two  companies  of  police. 

The  Seventh  Regiment,  I.  N.  G. 

Catholic  Knights  of  America,  Uniform  Rank. 

Clan-na-gael  Guards. 

Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  Uniform  Rank. 

Knights  of  Columbus. 


346       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  Uniform  Rank. 

Sons  of  Father  Matthew. 

St.  Michael's  Society,  Uniform  Rank. 

St.  Stanislaus'  Cadets. 

Seventy  carriages,  priests  of  the  diocese. 

Honorary  Pallbearers. 

Active  Pallbearers. 

Funeral  car. 

Members  of  the  Archbishop's  family  and  household. 

The  Cardinal,  Archbishops  and  Bishops. 

The  solemn  requiem  services  of  the  day  were  closed 
at  the  cemetery  by  the  Right  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  who 
officiated  in  the  last  offices  for  the  dead  in  conformity 
with  the  ancient  rites  of  the  Church. 

A  short  time  afterwards  the  Archbishops'  body  was 
removed  from  the  public  to  the  private  vault  of  Charles 
A.  Plamondon.  The  ceremonies  were  presided  over  by 
Bishop  Muldoon,  and  attending  them  were  Mother 
Catherine,  Father  F.  Barry,  Father  M.  J.  Fitzsim- 
mons,  V.  G.,  and  Father  Callaghan.  With  these 
were  a  few  friends  and  those  who  happened  to  be  in  the 
cemetery  at  the  time.  "The  Calvary  vault  was  not  a  fit 
resting  place  for  our  Archbishop,"  said  Bishop  Mul- 
doon. "Many  of  the  people  desired  an  opportunity  to 
offer  prayers,  and  it  was  not  right  that  this  should  be 
done  in  the  common  vault."  There  were  no  ostentatious 
ceremonies  associated  with  the  removal,  and  only  the 
relatives  and  close  friends  were  present.  However,  the 
body  of  the  Archbishop  was  placed  but  temporarily  in 
the  vault  of  Charles  A.  Plamondon,  as  it  was  the  ex- 
press wish  of  the  Archbishop  to  be  buried  in  Mount 
Carmel  Cemetery.  In  his  will,  made  on  May  10,  1902, 
it  is  stated:  "I  further  will  and  direct  my  executors 
(Right  Rev.  P.  J.  Muldoon,  Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons, 


THE   SOLEMN   FUNERAL  347 

and  Thos.  Brennan)  hereinafter  named,  to  see  to  it 
that  my  body  is  interred  in  Mount  Carmel  Cemetery 
and  shall  cause  to  be  erected  a  suitable  monument." 

This  transfer  of  the  Archbishop's  body  from  Calvary 
to  Mount  Carmel  Cemetery  took  place  on  October  7, 
1912. 

The  suggestion  of  Archbishop  Ryan  that  a  fitting 
monument  to  the  memory  of  Archbishop  Feehan  should 
be  erected  led  to  various  speculations  and  plans.  The 
beautiful  marble  statue  of  Archbishop  Feehan,  the 
"Protector  of  Our  Schools,"  which  had  been  the  cen- 
tral figure  of  the  diocesan  exhibit  at  the  time  of  the 
"World's  Fair,"  had  been  donated  to  Mother  Catherine, 
of  St.  Patrick's  Academy.  It  was  suggested  by  some 
to  have  this  statue  erected  in  some  public  place  in  the 
city  of  Chicago;  others  suggested  to  have  it  removed 
to  the  Holy  Name  Cathedral,  while  others  wished  that 
a  new  monument  be  built. 

Thus  ended  the  earthly  pilgrimage  of  this  chosen 
child  of  God  whom  the  world  will  ever  remember  as  the 
munificent  patron  of  education,  the  wise  mentor  and 
comforter  of  his  people  in  the  saddest  hours  of  their 
bitter  trials ;  the  Father  of  the  abandoned  and  the  poor ; 
the  just  and  merciful  judge;  the  faithful  friend  and 
devoted  priest  who  presents  to  our  view  a  splendid 
model  of  the  Christian  hero  who  has  no  peer  amongst 
all  the  celebrated  characters  of  the  pagan  world. 

And  when  contemplating  the  sublime  actions  by 
which  he  had  honored  God  and  blessed  the  human  race, 
can  we  not  exclaim  with  Chateaubriant:  "Such  deeds 
are  beyond  the  praises  of  men;  we  meet  them  with  the 
silent  tear  of  admiration." 


CHAPTER  XXV 

ECHOES   OF  THE   FUNERAL 

EDITORIAL  COMMENT  BY  SECULAR  PAPERS:  TRIBUNE,  INTER- 
OCEAN,  DAILY  NEWS,  JOURNAL  AND  EVENING  POST — CATHOLIC 
PRESS  COMMENT :  PITTSBURGH  OBSERVER,  CATHOLIC  JOURNAL 
AND  NEWS,  MEMPHIS,  TENN.,  IOWA  CATHOLIC  MESSENGER, 
THE  REVIEW,  ST.  LOUIS,  MO.,  THE  CATHOLIC  UNIVERSE,  THE 
CATHOLIC  TRANSCRIPT,  THE  WESTERN  WATCHMAN,  THE  NEW 
WORLD. 

THE  passing  of  Archbishop  Feehan  received  much 
editorial  notice.  The  "New  World"  printed  at  the  time 
the  following  editorials  taken  from  the  leading  news- 
papers of  the  country: 

(The  Chicago  Tribune) 

"Archbishop  Feehan  was  a  man  who  cared  little  for 
notoriety.  Notoriety,  though,  is,  perhaps,  not  quite  the 
word  that  should  be  used  to  express  the  kind  of  prom- 
inence he  avoided.  He  did  not  seem  to  care  even  for 
fame.  It  mattered  nothing  at  all  to  him  whether  his 
name  became  a  household  word  or  not.  He  devoted 
himself  to  the  diocese  to  which  his  consecration  as  Arch- 
bishop had  bound  him.  With  public  questions  beyond 
the  interests  of  his  diocese  he  seldom  meddled.  Pub- 
licity was  for  others.  The  affairs  of  the  Church  as 
found  in  Chicago  were  for  him.  Although  said  to  be  a 
sound  scholar,  he  never  wrote  on  Church  history  like 
Cardinal  Gibbons  of  Baltimore.  Although  a  man  to 
whom  it  was  given  to  help  in  the  bringing  of  many 
diverse  nationalities  into  a  united  American  life,  he 
never  wrote  and  spoke  on  the  American  Church  like 
Archbishop  Ireland  of  St.  Paul.  Although  a  man  of 
great  activity,  his  unobtrusive  manner  of  work  brought 

348 


ECHOES   OF   THE   FUNERAL  349 

him  less  general  recognition  than  was  the  lot  of  Arch- 
bishop Corrigan  of  New  York. 

The  public,  especially  the  Protestant  public,  knew 
only  that  the  Archbishop  of  Chicago  was  called  Fee- 
han,  and  that  the  prosperity  of  the  Archbishopric  would 
seem  to  show  that  the  administrative  officer  was  a  man 
of  great  powers  of  mind.  The  presumption  was  that 
Archbishop  Feehan  was  responsible  for  and  was  to  be 
credited  with  the  condition  of  the  great  diocese  of  which 
he  was  the  head.  To  Catholics,  especially  to  Catholics 
in  Chicago,  the  Archbishop  appeared  in  a  clearer  light. 
To  them  he  was  known  in  his  public  capacity  as  a  most 
tireless  and  efficient  worker,  in  his  private  life  as  a  kind 
and  gentle  guide  and  friend. 

What  Archbishop  Feehan  accomplished  in  Chicago 
will  seem  to  the  observer  to  have  two  features  which  are 
particularly  worth  mention.  There  was,  in  the  first 
place,  a  diplomatic  handling  of  the  Irish,  German,  Po- 
lish, Bohemian,  French  and  Italian  elements  in  the 
diocese.  There  was,  in  the  second  place,  an  insistence 
upon  parochial  schools.  In  both  cases  the  Archbishop 
had  a  gratifying  degree  of  success.  There  was  little  stir 
made,  however.  In  his  relations  with  foreign  priests 
and  laymen,  in  his  erection  and  maintenance  of  schools, 
as  well  as  in  his  encouragement  of  charitable  and  phil- 
anthropic enterprises,  there  was  no  beating  of  drums, 
there  was  no  clashing  of  cymbals.  The  Catholics  built 
homes  and  hospitals.  They  seemed  to  spring  up  in  a 
night.  They  were  in  operation  before  the  public  had 
heard  their  names.  The  immense  resources  of  the  dio- 
cese, concentrated  in  the  hands  of  the  Archbishop,  were 
for  use  rather  than  for  exhibition. 

Hence  it  is  that  one  can  say  that  if  ever  a  prelate 
forsook  all  other  interests  for  those  of  his  diocese,  that 

24 


350       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

prelate  was  Patrick  A.  Feehan.  From  the  time  he 
received  the  ring  and  the  crozier  he  labored  but  to  one 
end,  he  put  his  energies  into  but  one  channel,  and  they 
were  fruitful  in  good  works.  His  successor  will  enter 
into  an  inheritance  accumulated  for  him  by  the  wise, 
devout  administrator  of  a  great  religious  trust  who  has 
gone  peacefully  and  painlessly  to  his  rest." 

( The  Chicago  Inter-Ocean) 

"When  Archbishop  Feehan,  who  died  on  Saturday, 
came  to  Chicago,  the  newly  erected  archdiocese  needed, 
above  all,  an  administrator  and  an  organizer.  It  found 
both  in  the  new  Archbishop.  He  was  business  man,  as 
well  as  scholar  and  Churchman.  With  a  firm  grasp  on 
Church  polity,  he  gave  the  closest  attention  to  the  de- 
tails of  organization  and  management.  With  no  liking 
for  controversy,  he  succeeded  in  a  field  where  contro- 
versy had  been  rife  for  years.  Not  aggressive  himself, 
he  dominated  aggressive  men.  Coming  from  a  field 
where  the  question  of  nationality  had  been  of  little  im- 
portance, he  became  popular  in  a  field  where  the  ques- 
tion of  nationality  was  most  important. 

Under  his  direction  the  archdiocese  flourished  as  no 
other  in  the  United  States.  All  its  affairs  were  managed 
admirably.  Prominent  Catholics  were  not  in  the  habit 
of  speaking  of  Archbishop  Feehan  as  an  exceptionally 
strong  man,  but  they  were  in  the  habit  of  referring  to 
him  as  a  Prelate  of  high  and  gentle  spirit  and  an  admin- 
istrator with  a  most  extraordinary  grasp  of  a  difficult 
situation.  Certainly  in  no  other  field  of  Church  activity 
have  the  affairs  of  the  Catholic  Church  been  more  ad- 
mirably managed  than  in  Chicago. 

Towards  other  denominations,  Archbishop  Feehan 
was  tolerant  and  courteous.  He  joined  with  Protestants 


ECHOES   OF   THE   FUNERAL  351 

in  most  of  the  movements  of  the  last  twenty  years  for 
the  benefit  of  Chicago.  He  took  great  interest  in  edu- 
cational affairs,  and  was  conspicuous  in  the  movements 
that  culminated  in  the  World's  Fair.  Protestants  will 
join  with  Catholics  in  mourning  the  death  of  so  able  a 
Churchman  and  so  good  a  man." 

(The  Chicago  Daily  News) 

"It  would  be  difficult  to  fix  limits  defining  the  extent 
of  the  influence  exerted  upon  this  community  by  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  during  his  long  and  useful  life.  The 
vital  factors  in  the  social  or  religious  evolution  of  a 
people  are  frequently  those  which  are  not  most  con- 
spicuous. Archbishop  Feehan  seemed  to  shun  the  public 
prominence  which  naturally  would  have  been  his  had 
he  chosen  to  play  a  positive  part  in  the  more  obvious 
and  superficial  concerns  of  public  life.  Personally  of 
a  retiring  disposition,  he  lived  the  life  of  the  Church- 
man and  of  a  kindly  benefactor  of  his  fellow  men,  per- 
forming his  countless  good  deeds  in  a  way  to  escape 
notice. 

In  spite  of  this  rare  quality  of  self-effacement,  or 
perhaps  partly  because  of  it,  the  public  at  large  as  well 
as  the  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  have  recognized 
for  years  in  Archbishop  Feehan  a  powerful  and  positive 
force  for  good  in  the  community,  working  deep  in  the 
undercurrents  of  the  community  life.  Few  of  his  con- 
temporaries have  been  more  devoted  to  the  Church  or 
more  gentle  and  kindly  in  their  attitude  toward  man- 
kind. His  administration  of  his  high  office,  with  its 
many  and  difficult  problems,  testifies  to  his  exceptional 
ability,  but  his  purely  personal  qualities  both  as  man 
and  as  Prelate  have  been  even  more  a  source  of  strength. 
The  growth  of  this  diocese,  whjeh  has  more  than  trebled 


352       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

the  number  of  its  churches  since  he  became  Archbishop, 
may  have  been  due  largely  to  his  administrative  ability, 
but  the  influence  of  his  kindly  personality  and  example 
has  been  no  less  effective  for  good. 

The  sorrow  and  regret  occasioned  throughout  the 
country  by  his  death  will  be  peculiarly  felt  in  Chicago, 
where  the  venerable  Prelate  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  had  exercised  the  authority  and  prerogative  of 
the  highest  office  in  the  archdiocese." 

( The  Chicago  Journal) 

"The  late  Archbishop  Feehan  was  a  good  man,  full 
of  charity  and  loving  kindness;  a  pious  and  learned 
Churchman,  and  an  administrator  of  great  acumen  and 
executive  ability.  More  than  most  of  the  distinguished 
and  powerful  prelates  who  were  his  contemporaries,  he 
lived  in  as  well  as  for  the  Church  to  whose  service  his 
life  was  dedicated.  The  things  of  this  world  were  of  no 
moment  to  him  except  as  they  concerned  the  growth  of 
his  diocese ;  which  is  the  answer  to  the  frequent  question 
why  he  took  so  small  a  part  in  the  great  civic  move- 
ments of  his  time.  But,  if  Archbishop  Feehan  cared 
less  for  the  city  of  Chicago  than  for  the  Archdiocese  of 
Chicago,  he  cared  greatly  for  the  city's  greater  part  and 
lifted  it  up  among  the  great  ecclesiastical  provinces  of 
the  Roman  world.  May  he  rest  in  peace,  for  he  has 
fought  the  good  fight;  he  has  kept  the  faith. 

It  were  hardly  decorous  as  yet  to  discuss  the  candi- 
dates for  his  seat  in  the  hierarchy.  But  it  is  not  im- 
proper to  say  that  his  successor  ought  to  be  a  big  man, 
a  statesman  as  well  as  a  scholar,  and  a  man  of  business. 
No  man,  no  dozen  men,  can  exert  so  powerful  an  in- 
fluence upon  the  city's  future  as  the  Catholic  Arch- 
bishop of  Chicago;  and  Archbishop  Feehan's  successor 


ECHOES   OF  THE  FUNERAL  353 

should  be  a  man  who  realizes  this  and  is  not  too  languid 
or  too  timorous  to  exert  that  influence  to  the  utmost." 

(Chicago  Evening  Post) 

"Archbishop  Patrick  A.  Feehan,  whose  sudden  death 
has  deeply  affected  the  Catholic  community  and  is  re- 
gretted by  all  thoughtful  people,  was  in  the  best  sense 
of  the  word  an  ecclesiastic.  He  was  devoted,  pious, 
gentle  and  self-sacrificing.  His  heroic  work  in  Nash- 
ville during  the  ravages  of  the  cholera  epidemic  in  the 
late  '60s  brought  him  great  and  deserved  fame,  and 
naturally  led  to  his  appointment  as  the  first  Archbishop 
of  the  diocese  of  Chicago. 

For  nearly  twenty-two  years  Archbishop  Feehan  ad- 
ministered the  affairs,  spiritual  and  temporal,  of  this 
great  archdiocese,  the  second  in  the  United  States.  The 
legislature  of  Illinois  was  liberal  and  generous  enough 
to  pass  an  act  making  the  Catholic  Archbishop  of  Chi- 
cago a  corporation  sole,  and  the  privilege  has  certainly 
been  of  great  benefit  to  the  Catholics  of  the  archdiocese. 
The  Archbishop's  investments  were  invariably  prudent, 
and  the  wealth  of  the  organization  has  steadily  grown. 
Personally  the  late  Archbishop  was  poor,  and  he  prob- 
ably left  very  little  property  to  his  relatives. 

In  politics,  secular  and  ecclesiastical,  Archbishop 
Feehan  never  dabbled.  He  was  liberal,  and  the  politico-- 
economic beliefs  of  his  flock  did  not  concern  him.  He 
had  no  ambition  beyond  that  of  faithfully  performing 
his  important  duties  and  looking  after  the  welfare  of 
his  churches,  schools  and  charitable  institutions  within 
his  jurisdiction.  He  avoided  controversy  and  general 
public  questions,  though  he  was  doubtless  in  sympathy 
with  what  is  called  'Americanism'  in  Catholic  teaching 
and  tendency." 


354       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

CATHOLIC   PRESS  COMMENT: 

(Pittsburgh  Observer) 

"The  death  of  Archbishop  Feehan  removes  one  of  the 
strong  pillars  of  conservatism  from  the  Church  in  this 
country.  His  loss  is  one  to  be  mourned  for  several 
reasons." 

(Catholic  Journal  and  News,  Memphis,  Tenn.) 

"Scarcely  were  the  sods  green  upon  the  grave  of  New 
York's  great  prelate  than  the  Catholic  heart  of  this 
country  was  again  saddened  for  another  of  her  most 
honored  and  beloved  sons.  The  death  of  Archbishop 
Feehan  is  keenly  felt  and  sincerely  mourned.  Because 
he  was  the  ideal  'Sogarth  Aroon,'  the  faithful,  simple 
father,  adviser,  as  well  as  the  august  prelate  of  one  of 
the  greatest  dioceses  in  America. 

The  people  loved  him,  for  they  could  always  approach 
him  and  he  was  ever  as  ready  to  give  ear  to  their  plaints 
as  when  he  was  a  plain  parish  priest.  He  sought  not 
worldly  honor  or  glory,  but  rather  the  eternal  glory  of 
the  God  that  he  served  so  faithfully  and  the  people 
whom  he  loved  so  dearly. 

Archbishop  Feehan,  unlike  some  other  prelates,  had 
no  ambition  to  be  the  central  magnet  in  an  episcopal 
galaxy;  he  craved  not  the  honor  of  high  position  and 
power;  all  he  sought  was  simply  the  love  of  his  Creator 
and  his  fellowmen. 

Archbishop  Feehan  would  rather  be  a  true,  faithful, 
lowly  priest  than  a  great,  ambitious  Pope.  He  was  not 
so  great  a  prelate  that  his  ambition  ever  burned  his 
surplice,  but  he  was  a  good  man  in  the  fullest  sense  of 
the  word. 

In  his  death  America  lost  one  of  her  best  and  most 
loved  prelates ;  a  man  of  scholarly  mind  and  great  force 


ECHOES   OF   THE  FUNERAL  855 

of  intellect.  His  priests  and  his  people  alike  loved  and 
revered  him,  for  the  great  labors  of  his  life  were  for 
and  among  them.  They  saw  and  knew  him  as  he  was, 
the  real  priest  of  God." 

(Iowa  Catholic  Messenger) 

"The  death  of  Archbishop  Feehan  occurred  Saturday. 
He  had  had  charge  of  the  Chicago  Archdiocese  for 
twenty-two  years,  and  goes  to  his  grave  leaving  as  great 
a  monument  of  accomplishments  as  any  who  ever 
devoted  their  lives  to  the  work  of  the  Church.  He  left 
a  diocese  with  1,000,000  Catholics,  with  the  best  of  edu- 
cational and  charitable  institutions  in  every  part  of  it. 
The  churches,  the  schools,  both  collegiate  and  parochial, 
the  hospitals  and  orphanages  which  he  has  given  to  Chi- 
cago alone,  represent  millions  of  wealth  and  years  of 
devoted  labor.  These  institutions,  the  work  which  with 
the  aid  of  his  clergy  and  religious  orders  he  has  done,  the 
souls  he  has  saved,  the  men  and  women  whom  he  has 
educated,  the  orphans  that  he  has  reared,  the  sick  and 
unfortunate  that  he  has  cared  for,  we  believe  will  merit 
a  greater  reward  at  the  hands  of  the  Master  to  Whose 
service  he  consecrated  himself,  than  that  of  the  proudest 
of  these  who  build  nations  and  palaces  and  go  to  their 
graves  in  purple. 

Archbishop  Feehan  did  his  work  without  ostentation, 
devoted  all  his  days  to  the  work  of  his  holy  office  and 
is  followed  to  the  grave  by  the  prayers  of  thousands 
of  those  whose  lives  he  has  made  better." 
(The  Review — St.  Louis) 

"We  are  pained  to  be  compelled  to  chronicle  the  rather 
sudden  death,  on  last  Saturday,  of  the  venerable  Arch- 
bishop Feehan,  of  Chicago,  under  whose  benign  crozier 
The  Review  was  founded  and  prospered  for  over  three 
years,  despite  the  attempts  of  its  enemies  to  move  him 


356       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

to  muzzle  it.  The  departed  Metropolitan,  in  the  words 
of  his  and  our  friend,  Father  G.  D.  Heldman,  'had  that 
special  gift  which  won  him  the  absolute  confidence  and 
the  deepest  love  and  affection  of  every  nationality  of 
his  diocese.  He  possessed  that  subtle  spiritual  power 
which  united  them  all  in  himself.  He  was  the  kindest 
of  fathers  to  his  priests.  The  poor  and  downtrodden 
found  in  him  a  kind  and  compassionate  friend  at  all 
times.  No  one  in  trouble  ever  went  to  him  but  came 
away  blessed  by  his  words  and  helped  to  bear  their  sor- 
rows'. .  .  Under  his  hand  the  parochial  school  system 
of  Chicago  has  been  so  perfected  that  it  is  second  to 
none  in  the  world.  There  are  more  children  in  the  par- 
ochial schools  of  the  archdiocese  than  in  any  other  in 
the  United  States.  Not  in  vain  was  he  called  the 
'Protector  of  the  Schools.' 
May  he  rest  in  peace !" 

(Catholic  Universe — Cleveland,  O.) 

"Last  Saturday  afternoon  Archbishop  Feehan,  of 
Chicago,  died  rather  unexpectedly,  though  he  had  been 
in  poor  health  for  more  than  a  year.  Twenty-two  years 
ago  he  was  called  from  the  See  of  Nashville  to  preside 
over  the  great  and  rapidly  growing  diocese  of  Chicago. 
From  his  student  days  he  had  been  noted  for  his  talent 
and  ability.  His  new  field  of  labor  demanded  the 
exercise  of  his  recognized  administrative  ability.  He 
sought  not  applause  nor  did  he  court  the  attention  of 
the  public.  He  worked  almost  as  silently  and  as  faith- 
fully as  the  forces  of  nature.  Dignified  almost  to  the 
point  of  austerity,  yet  he  won  his  way  to  the  affections 
of  his  clergy  and  of  the  people.  Hence  there  is  mourn- 
ing in  the  great  city  and  throughout  the  immense  dio- 
cese. The  magnitude  of  his  funeral  testifies  to  the  place 


ECHOES   OF   THE   FUNERAL  357 

he  won  in  the  respect  of  the  people  of  Chicago  irrespec- 
tive of  creed  or  nationality. 

Archbishop  Feehan  realized  early  and  strongly  the 
truth  emphasized  by  the  Scriptures:  'Unless  the  Lord 
build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it.'  Hence 
he  directed  that  the  school  should  precede  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Church  edifice.  This  was  his  glory  and  his 
crown. 

Strange  indeed  it  is  that  the  two  largest  dioceses  in 
America  are  now  vacant,  Chicago  and  New  York.    All 
should  pray  that  worthy  successors  be  sent  to  succeed 
Archbishop  Corrigan  and  Archbishop  Feehan." 
(The  Catholic  Transcript — Hartford.,  Conn.) 

"The  death  of  Archbishop  Feehan  leaves  the  two 
greatest  sees  in  the  American  Church  widowed.  Chi- 
cago, under  this  great  Metropolitan,  prospered  as  mar- 
velously  as  did  New  York  under  the  late  Archbishop 
Corrigan.  The  growth  of  each  diocese  was  something 
altogether  phenomenal  and  unrivaled,  we  believe,  in  the 
whole  history  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Archbishop  Feehan  was  a  singularly  dignified  and 
retiring  Prelate.  Of  late  years,  his  declining  health  had 
kept  him  well  out  of  the  public  mouth.  He  sought  re- 
tirement and  was  seldom  seen  even  on  occasions  when 
great  ecclesiastical  functions  were  in  order.  He  had 
earned  these  few  years  of  repose,  for  in  his  day  he  was 
in  the  very  center  of  events  which  were  calculated  to 
break  the  strength  and  try  the  soul  of  the  devoted  Prel- 
ate. 

The  wondrous  development  of  the  great  Metropolitan 
See  of  Chicago  under  his  direction  is  an  evidence  of 
his  exceptional  ability  and  worth.  He  ruled  wisely  and 
with  hardly  a  shadow  of  opposition  till  age  had  pro- 
claimed that  his  work  was  done.  He  was  not,  however, 


358       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

suffered  to  die  in  peace.  For  a  gadfly  penetrated  his 
seclusion  and  harassed  him  sorely  for  months.  The 
people  under  his  episcopal  care  had,  however,  the  dis- 
cernment to  know  where  real  merit  and  justice  resided, 
and  those  who  foolishly  opposed  his  wise  rulings  met 
with  the  condemnation  and  rejection  which  they  so 
abundantly  deserved. 

The  first  Archbishop  of  Chicago  honored  his  ministry 
and  deserves  to  rank  among  the  most  illustrious  founders 
of  the  great  American  Church." 

(The  Western  Watchman) 

"Following  so  quickly  after  the  death  of  the  Arch- 
bishop of  New  York,  the  news  of  the  sudden  demise  of 
Archbishop  Feehan  struck  the  Catholics  of  the  country 
like  a  visitation  from  God.  To  those  who  knew  the 
precarious  condition  of  the  latter  Prelate's  health,  the 
announcement  of  his  death  was  no  surprise.  Archbishop 
Feehan  has  been  hovering  between  life  and  death  for 
four  years.  Two  years  ago  the  Propaganda  was  al- 
ready taking  steps  to  fill  the  vacant  See  of  Chicago. 
Archbishop  Feehan  had  had  three  severe  attacks  of 
pneumonia,  from  which  only  the  best  care  and  a  natu- 
rally rugged  constitution  saved  him.  But  they  left  his 
bodily  health  seriously  undermined  and  a  final  break- 
down was  inevitable. 

Archbishop  Feehan  was  a  man  of  methodical,  but 
constant  occupation.  He  began  his  ecclesiastical  career 
as  president  of  the  St.  Louis'  Diocesan  Seminary.  He 
developed  in  that  position  the  sterling  qualities  that 
afterwards  marked  him  for  promotion.  Mildness  and 
amiability  were  his  chief  characteristics.  It  was  said 
then  that  he  lacked  'push.'  Archbishop  Kenrick  had 
promoted  Bishop  Duggan  from  the  most  fashionable 
parish  in  this  city  to  the  See  of  Chicago  and  he  was 


ECHOES   OF   THE  FUNERAL  359 

not  long  in  selecting  a  successor  in  the  parish.  He  called 
Father  Feehan  to  the  Immaculate  Conception  Church. 
As  a  St.  Louis  pastor,  he  was  easily  head  and  shoulder 
above  all  his  fellows.  He  was  the  most  revered  and 
respected  priest  in  St.  Louis  in  his  day.  His  habits 
were  simple,  his  life  austere,  and  his  manners  gentle 
almost  to  womanliness.  He  had  but  one  way  of  talk- 
ing to  everybody.  He  had  no  society  tones;  no  man- 
nerisms. As  he  talked  to  a  beggar  at  his  door  he  talked 
to  the  lady  in  silks;  and  as  he  talked  in  the  parlor  he 
talked  in  the  pulpit.  Not  even  in  his  singing  did  he 
ever  vary  his  intonations.  He  sang  the  Preface  in  the 
same  artless  and  unaffected  way  he  sang  an  Irish  mel- 
ody. He  never  posed.  He  was  not  moved  by  flattery. 
We  shall  never  forget  the  morning  of  his  consecration. 

He  had  been  lauded  to  the  skies  by  the  preacher.  The 
people  had  made  in  his  honor  a  grand  demonstration. 
The  pageant  was  calculated  to  impress  the  most  stolid 
nature.  As  the  new  bishop  sought  his  room  after  the 
ceremony  a  number  of  his  personal  friends  were  wait- 
ing to  greet  him.  He  threw  himself  into  a  chair  and 
asked  for  his  pipe.  'I  am  dead  for  a  smoke/  was  all 
he  had  to  say.  While  others  were  thinking  of  his  learn- 
ing, eloquence,  worth  and  promise,  he  was  thinking  of 
his  dudeen.  We  say  this  to  illustrate  the  intense  natural- 
ness of  the  man. 

After  spending  fifteen  years  in  Nashville,  the  Bishop 
was  called  by  the  Holy  Father  to  take  possession  of  the 
See  of  Chicago,  then  raised  to  the  rank  of  an  Arch- 
bishopric. For  twenty-two  years  Archbishop  Feehan 
has  ruled  over  that  great  diocese.  During  that  time  it 
has  more  than  trebled  in  Catholic  population  and  the 
number  of  priests  and  churches  has  grown  in  propor- 
tion. Chicago  is  today  the  second  See  in  this  country 


360       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

and  perhaps  in  the  world.  It  has  550  priests  and  247 
parish  churches.  It  has  65,000  children  attending 
Catholic  schools  and  a  Catholic  population  of  nearly 
one  million. 

It  has  been  said  of  Archbishop  Feehan  in  Chicago, 
what  was  said  of  him  when  he  was  president  of  St. 
Louis'  Diocesan  Seminary,  that  he  lacked  'push.' 
Bishops  do  not  need  'push.'  None  ever  said  that  he 
lacked  ecclesiastical  spirit;  that  he  was  not  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  religion;  that  he  failed  in  love  and  duty 
to  his  priests  and  people.  He  was  gentle,  and  at  times 
when  it  might  be  considered  proper  for  him  to  assert 
himself,  he  was  painfully  diffident,  and  even  awkwardly 
bashful.  When  he  spoke  in  public  his  voice  was  low 
and  weak.  His  monotonous  utterances  would  seem  to 
indicate  coldness.  But  those  who  would  sit  near  him 
would  observe  the  man's  intense  agitation.  He  appeared 
slow  and  placid ;  but  a  cauldron  of  pent-up  feeling  was 
seething  within.  He  could  not  make  others  feel  what 
he  felt,  and  many,  therefore,  thought  him  callous.  He 
was  as  candid  as  a  boy,  and  as  sensitive  as  a  maiden. 

He  is  dead,  and  he  did  not  regret  to  leave  a  cold  and 
noisy  world,  or  the  pomp  and  trappings  of  an  office 
he  never  coveted  and  which  he  left  enriched  with  the 
luster  of  one  more  generous  sacrifice ;  one  more  shining 
example  of  the  devotion  that  lays  down  life  for  Christ's 
sheep." 

(The  New  World) 

"A  life,  noble,  beautiful  and  good  in  thought  and 
action,  in  the  secrecy  of  the  home  as  well  as  in  the 
sanctuary  and  in  the  chair  of  episcopal  administration, 
has  reached  its  term.  Few  prelates  have  better  earned 
the  double  honor  that,  as  St.  Paul  declares  in  his  letter 
to  Timothy,  attaches  to  probity  in  private  life  and 


ECHOES   OF   THE   FUNERAL  361 

integrity  in  public  office,  than  the  Most  Reverend 
Patrick  Augustine  Feehan.  Few  ecclesiastics  have 
been  rendered  more  illustrious,  not  only  by  the  nobility 
of  their  personality,  but  also  by  the  moral  elevation  of 
their  public  policy.  A  retrospect  of  that  life  so  fruit- 
ful in  acts  of  beneficence,  so  attractive  to  all  who  had 
the  dignity  of  character  to  appreciate  it,  impresses  us 
most  of  all  by  its  unity,  continuity  and  symmetry.  We 
discern  the  Archbishop  in  the  priest,  and  the  priest  in 
the  student.  St.  Gregory  of  Nazianzen  said  of  the 
great  St.  Basil  that  he  was  a  priest  before  he  received 
episcopal  ordination.  Even  in  Archbishop  Feehan's 
boyhood  the  innocence  of  his  disposition,  the  gravity  of 
his  demeanor,  his  solid  virtue  and  his  love  for  the  Church 
and  its  sacred  ceremonies,  had  consecrated  his  soul  be- 
fore the  hands  of  the  Bishop  had  communicated  to  him 
the  sacramental  character. 

The  equipoise  of  that  grand  and  noble  life,  which 
opened  in  the  year  of  Ireland's  emancipation,  in  the 
shadow  of  the  historic  Rock  of  'Cashel  of  the  Kings' 
and  peacefully  closed  in  the  archiepiscopal  residence 
last  Saturday  afternoon,  could  not  lose  or  suffer  altera- 
tion in  a  single  element  without  the  moral  beauty  of  its 
balance  and  proportions  being  disturbed.  The  gentle- 
ness and  sense  of  justice,  the  apostolic  sweetness  and 
dignity,  the  unostentatious  zeal  and  quiet  enthusiasm  in 
every  noble  enterprise,  that  won  unbounded  admira- 
tion during  his  episcopate,  had  established  an  inviolable 
sanctuary  in  his  soul  from  his  earliest  years.  The  com- 
plete absence  of  self-seeking  was  as  evident  in  the  boy 
as  in  the  Archbishop,  and  he  accepted  academic  honors 
in  the  same  spirit  of  gentle  reluctance  in  which  he  after- 
wards accepted  the  highest  ecclesiastical  dignities.  Yet 
the  magnificent  gifts  with  which  nature  had  lavishly 


362       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

endowed  him  were  cultivated  with  conscientious  care,  so 
that  one  of  his  professors  in  Maynooth  said  of  him,  what 
was  once  said  of  St.  Athanasius,  that  he  surpassed  the 
most  brilliant  by  his  industry  and  the  most  diligent 
by  his  brilliancy. 

The  dominant  unifying  principle  of  his  life  was  his 
moral  elevation  of  character.  He  was  raised  as  high 
above  the  common  herd  as  Moses  on  the  summit  of 
Sinai,  communing  with  the  God  of  eternal  truth  and 
holiness  was  elevated  over  the  Israelites,  who  were 
prostrate  before  the  golden  calf  in  the  plains  beneath. 
By  a  natural  affinity,  he  was  associated  during  the  entire 
length  of  his  career  with  men  of  powerful  intellect  and 
lofty  ideals.  The  late  Lord  Russell,  of  Killowen,  was 
his  classmate  at  Castle  Knock  College  and  his  life-long 
friend.  Among  his  intimate  associates  in  the  great  ec- 
clesiastical Seminary  of  Maynooth,  especially  after  his 
promotion  to  the  famous  Dunboyne  establishment,  were 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Murray,  author  of  the  classic  work  on  the 
'Church;'  Rev.  George  Crolly,  the  celebrated  jurist; 
Rev.  Dr.  Callan,  the  distinguished  scientist,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  MacHale,  afterwards  the  great  Archbishop 
of  Tuam,  'the  lion  of  the  fold  of  Judah.' 

From  the  day  of  his  affiliation  to  the  diocese  of  St. 
Louis  he  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  its  illustrious  Ordi- 
nary, the  scholarly  Archbishop  Kenrick,  and  the  intimate 
companionship  of  the  late  Archbishop  Hennessey,  of 
Dubuque,  and  Archbishop  Ryan,  of  Philadelphia,  'the 
American  Chrysostom,'  who  came  from  the  Atlantic 
coast  to  the  funeral  to  offer  the  unique  tribute  of  his 
eloquence  to  the  illustrious  dead. 

Every  impulse  of  his  spirit  was  lofty,  far-reaching, 
masterful  and  free  from  subjection  to  accidental  cir- 
cumstances of  time  and  place.  That  love  of  academic 


ECHOES   OF   THE   FUNERAL  363 

seclusion  and  shrinking  from  notoriety,  which  to  many 
seemed  rooted  in  his  character,  would  disappear  before 
the  needs  of  a  situation  like  that  in  which  he  found  him- 
self when  he  became  Bishop  of  Nashville  immediately 
after  the  Civil  War.  Then  the  vigor,  enthusiasm, 
splendid  physical  energy  and  boundless  resources  latent 
in  his  powerful  personality  came  into  play,  and  remained 
in  evidence  until  he  had  brought  order  out  of  chaos  and 
reorganized  the  Church  on  a  magnificent  scale  within 
the  sphere  of  his  jurisdiction. 

That  such  a  man  would  be  popular  with  that  strong 
and  enduring  popularity  that  captivates  the  mind  and 
heart  rather  than  the  fancy,  was  inevitable,  and  the  love 
and  admiration  of  his  people  on  special  occasions,  no- 
tably when  he  celebrated  the  Silver  Jubilee  of  his 
Episcopate,  flamed  up  with  an  ardor  and  intensity  al- 
most unparalleled  in  the  history  of  this  country.  Public 
men  are  often  most  admired  where  they  are  least  known. 
The  deceased  Archbishop  awakened  the  deepest  rever- 
ence and  most  enthusiastic  affection  in  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  his  priests  in  Chicago.  For  more  than  twenty- 
two  years  they  have  been  the  chief  beneficiaries  of  his 
wise  and  gentle  rule.  Never  has  there  been  a  happier 
combination  of  the  suaviter  in  modo  and  fortiter  in  re. 
In  no  diocese  of  the  Catholic  Church  has  a  more  perfect 
equilibrium  been  attained  and  preserved  between  per- 
sonal liberty  and  the  administration  of  ecclesiastical  law. 
No  prelate  better  learned  to  discern  when  speech  was 
merely  silvern  and  when  silence  was  golden.  The  mag- 
nificent results  of  this  wise  policy  appeared  in  a  zealous 
and  contented  clergy,  a  devout  and  reverent  laity,  under 
the  patriarchal  chief  to  whom  all  his  subjects  rendered 
ready  homage  and  cheerful  obedience.  It  was  condi- 
tions like  these  that  contributed  to  the  unprecedented 


364       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

growth  of  Catholicity  in  our  midst — growth  of  Catholic 
population,  multiplication  of  churches,  schools,  relig- 
ious congregations,  charitable  institutions — in  a  word, 
of  everything  that  constitutes  and  consolidates  the 
Catholic  Church  among  a  people.  Hence  every  priest 
of  the  archdiocese  could  truly  say,  'My  lines  have  been 
cast  in  pleasant  places.' 

The  charm  of  his  personal  character,  his  deep  and 
unostentatious  piety,  his  truly  southern  dignity  and 
suavity,  his  enthusiasm  for  every  noble  ideal  which  is 
a  native  inheritance  of  the  children  of  the  Gael,  and  his 
serene  mind  and  tranquil  judgment  would  ennoble 
human  nature  in  any  profession,  but  dignified  it  with  a 
peculiar  grace  in  the  person  of  a  Catholic  Bishop.  God, 
in  His  providence,  we  may  well  hope,  will  always  give 
great  archbishops  for  this  great  archdiocese.  But  in 
our  most  sanguine  moments  we  cannot  look  for  a  prel- 
ate who  will  be  in  better  accord  with  the  legitimate 
rights,  or  in  closer  harmony  with  the  noblest  and  loftiest 
aspirations  of  his  priests,  than  was  the  Most  Rev.  Arch- 
bishop Feehan. 

Peace,  beloved  Archbishop,  to  thy  gentle  spirit!  The 
lyric  poet  of  your  native  land,  whose  melodies  you  loved 
so  well  because  they  touched  every  chord  of  your  ex- 
quisite Celtic  nature,  describes  the  dying  daylight  in 
mystic  language  that  aptly  symbolizes  the  closing  years 
of  your  life.  The  sun  is  set,  but  its  lingering  rays  will 
irradiate  many  a  mind  and  heart  in  future  years. 

As  the  tens  of  thousands  of  mourners  filed  past  the 
casket  to  take  a  last  look  at  the  noble  face  that  so  beau- 
tifully mirrored  the  lofty  virtues  of  his  soul,  many  a 
glowing  tribute  was  paid  to  the  illustrious  dead.  First 
came  the  orphans  bereft  of  nature's  guardians  to  whom 
he  was  the  beneficent  instrument  of  God's  Providence, 


ECHOES   OF   THE   FUNERAL  365 

sheltering  them,  clothing  them,  feeding  them.  Will  not 
their  deceased  mothers  gratefully  and  eloquently  plead 
the  cause  of  this  Apostle  of  Charity  before  the  Throne 
of  Mercy?  Then  came  the  poor  whom  he  succored,  full 
of  the  liveliest  recollections  of  his  countless  benefactions 
known  only  to  them  and  to  God.  They  will  fervently 
supplicate  Him  Who  promised  to  reward  even  a  cup  of 
cold  water  given  in  His  Name  to  be  mindful  of  one 
who  never  beheld  want  and  suffering  without  alleviat- 
ing and  solacing  it. 

Little  children  were  there,  because  he  loved  them, 
even  as  his  Divine  Master  loved  them.  For  innocence 
always  attracts  innocence.  What  joy  he  felt  at  Con- 
firmation time,  when  with  heart  overflowing  with  pater- 
nal tenderness  and  affection,  he  mingled  with  them,  his 
face  radiant  with  kindness  and  his  words  enkindling 
the  sweetest  emotions  in  their  bosoms !  What  an  admir- 
able representative  of  Him  Who  said,  'Suffer  little  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  Me,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven.'  Young  men  occupying  honorable  and  re- 
sponsible positions  came  to  take  their  last  farewell  of 
him  who  rescued  them  from  material  and  moral  degra- 
dation and  despair,  and  educated  them  in  knowledge 
and  hope  and  virtue  in  that  magnificent  institute  on  the 
Desplaines  river,  whose  name  will  perpetuate  his  apos- 
tolic memory  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

From  hospital,  asylum  and  academy  grief -stricken 
Sisters,  without  distinction  of  congregation  or  language, 
gathered  around  the  bier  of  their  deceased  father  in 
God,  of  whose  sympathy,  solicitude  and  kindness  almost 
every  one  of  them  had  some  personal  reminiscence. 
They  will  remember  him  when  others  have  forgotten 
him,  and  will  be  united  with  him  in  the  communion  of 
saints  by  the  loving  prayers  which  they  will  address  for 


366       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP   FEEHAN 

him  to  Jesus  in  the  tabernacle.  But  most  expressive, 
even  in  death,  was  that  face  for  his  priests,  who  were 
nearest  and  dearest  to  him  in  life  What  a  history  of 
kindness,  of  sympathy,  of  tenderness,  of  paternal  affec- 
tion and  sage  counsel  for  every  one  of  them,  from  the 
oldest  to  the  youngest,  dating  for  many  of  them  from 
the  moment  they  entered  the  ecclesiastical  seminary,  was 
written  in  that  noble  face!  They,  at  least,  will  never 
forget  him  in  their  prayers,  and  especially  in  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  They  will  give  thanks  to  God, 
the  Father,  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  He  has  caused  to  arise 
in  our  days  a  priest  so  holy,  so  innocent,  so  zealous,  so 
patient,  so  assiduous  in  prayer,  so  indefatigable,  self- 
sacrificing  and  wholly  consecrated  to  the  interests  of 
the  Church.  May  his  spirit  be  upon  them  for  genera- 
tions!" 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SUMMARY  OF  THE 
MOST  REV.  P.  A.  FEEHAN 

1829 — August  29th,  born  at  Killenaule,  County  Tip- 
perary,  Ireland. 

1845 — Enters  Castle  Knock  college,  (ecclesiastic.) 

1847 — Enters  Maynooth  College. 

1852 — Accepts  a  call  from  Archbishop  Kenrick  and 
comes  to  America.  November  1st,  ordination 
to  the  priesthood  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

1853 — Appointed  assistant  priest  to  St.  John's  Church, 
St.  Louis,  in  July.  Ministers  to  cholera  vic- 
tims in  St.  Louis. 

1854 — Succeeds  to  the  presidency  of  the  Seminary  at 
Carondelet. 

1858 — Appointed  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Michael's 
Church  and  subsequently  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 

1862 — Establishes  hospital  for  wounded  soldiers. 

1865 — November  1st,  Consecrated  Bishop  of  Nashville. 

1866 — Participates  in  the  Second  Plenary  Council  of 
Baltimore.  Ministers  to  the  stricken  during 
cholera  plagues  and  the  yellow  fever  visita- 
tions in  the  South. 

1880 — November  28th,  Nominated  first  Archbishop  of 
Chicago. 

1883 — Summoned  to  Rome  to  prepare  the  work  for  the 
Third  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore. 

1890 — October  29th,  Observes  the  twenty-fifth  anniver- 
sary of  his  Consecration. 

1902— July  12th,  Dies  in  Chicago. 

367 


368       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

BISHOPS   OF   CHICAGO 

1845-1848— Rt.  Rev.  William  Quarter,  D.  D. 
1848-1853— Rt.  Rev.  James  Oliver  Van  de  Velde,  D.  D. 
1854-1856— Rt.  Rev.  Anthony  O'Regan,  D.  D. 
1856-1857— Rt.  Rev.  Mathew  Dillon,  Administrator. 
1857-1859 — Rt.  Rev.  Clement  J.    Smythe,    Adminis- 
trator. 

1859-1869 — Rt.  Rev.  James  Duggan,  D.  D. 
1870-1879— Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  Foley,  D.D. 
1880-1902— Most  Rev.  Patrick  A.  Feehan,  D.  D. 
1903-1915 — Most  Rev.  James  Edward  Quigley,  D.  D. 
1915 Most  Rev.  George  W.  Mundelein,  D.  D. 


APPENDIX 

No.  1 — Testimonial  Letters  of  the  Ordination  of  Pat- 
rick Feehan: 

PETRUS    RICHARDUS    KENRICK,   Dei    et 

Apostolicae  Sedis  gratia  Archiepiscopus  S.  Ludovici, 
Universis  et  Singiilis  praesentes  inspecturis  fidem  faci- 
mus  atque  testamur  Nos  die  prima  Mensis  Novembris 
Anni  MDCCCLII  Missam  in  Pontificalibus  sine  cantu 
celebrantes  in  Ecclesia  Cathedrali  S.  Ludovici  Ordina- 
tionem  extra  tempora  a  jure  constituta,  dispensatione 
super  interstitibus,  habuisse,  atque  dilectum  Nobis  in 
Christo  Diaconum  Patritium  Feehan  ad  Sacrum  Pres- 
byteratus  Ordinem  praevio  examine  idoneum  repertum, 
atque  dotibus  a  S.  Cone.  Trid.  requisitis  praeditum, 
adhibitis  consuetis  solemnitatibus  ac  caeremoniis  juxta 
S.  R.  E.  Ritum  in  Domino  promovisse,  praesentibus 
RR.  DD.  Simone  Aug.  Paris,  Josepho  Renaud,  Ed- 
mundo  Saulnier,  Jacobo  Duggan. 

In  quorum  testimonium  praesentes   manu   Vicarii 

Generalis  Nostri  subscriptas,  nostroque  sigillo,  atque 

Cancellarii  nostri  subscriptione  communitas  fieri  jus- 

simus. 

Datum  S.  Ludovici  ex  Aedibus  Cancellariae,  die  2a 
mensis  Novembris,  MDCCCLII. 

De  Mandato  Illmi.  ac  Revmi.  Archiepiscopi 

JOSEPH  MELCHER,  V.  G. 
EDM.  SAULNIER,  Cancellarius. 

369 


370       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

No.  2 — Brief  of  Nomination  of  Father  Feehan  to  the 
See  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  7,  1865: 

Dilecto  Filio  Patritio  Feehan  Presbytero  Hiberno. 
PIUS  PP.  IX. 

Dilecte  Fili  Salutem  et  Apostolicam  Benedictionem. 

Apostolatus  officium  meritis  licet  imparibus,  Nobis  ex 
alto  commissium,  quo  Ecclesiarum  omnium  regimini 
Divina  dispositione  praesidemus,  utiliter  exequi,  ad- 
juvante  Domino,  cupientes,  solliciti  corde  reddimur,  et 
solertes,  ut  cum  de  Ecclesiarum  ipsarum  regiminibus 
agitur  committendis,  tales  eis  in  Pastores  praeficere 
studeamus,  qui  populum  suae  curae  creditum  sciant  non 
solum  doctrina  verbi,  sed  etiam  exemplo  boni  operis 
informare,  commissasque  sibi  Ecclesias  in  statu  pacifico 
et  tranquillo  velint  et  valeant,  auctore  Domino,  salu- 
briter  regere,  et  feliciter  gubernare.  Dudum  siquidem 
provisiones  Ecclesiarum  omnium  nunc  vacantium,  et 
quae  in  posterum  erunt  vacaturae,  ordinationi  et  dispo- 
sition! Nostrae  reservavimus,  decernentes  ex  tune  irri- 
tum  et  inane  si  secus  super  his  a  quoquam  quavis  auc- 
toritate  scienter  vel  ignoranter  contigerit  attentari. 
Postmodum  vero  Episcopali  Ecclesia  Nashvillensi,  cui 
venerabilis  Frater  Jacobus  Whelan  ultimus  illius  An- 
tistes  praesidebat,  per  renuntiationem  ejusdem  Venera- 
bilis Fratris,  quam  mense  Septembri  Anni  MDCCC- 
LXIII  ratam  habuimus,  Pastoris  solatio  destituta,  Nos 
ad  ejusdem  Ecclesiae  provisionem  celerem,  atque  feli- 
cem,  in  qua  nemo  praeter  Nos  se  potest,  poteritve  im- 
miscere,  decreto  et  reservatione  obsistentibus  hujusmodi, 
Paterno  et  sollicito  studio,  ne  ilia  exponatur  diuturnio- 
ris  vacationis  incommodis,  intendentes  post  delibera- 
tionem,  quam  de  praeficiendo  eidem  Ecclesiae  per- 
sonam  utilem  ac  fructuosam  cum  SS.  Fratribus 


APPENDIX  371 

Nostris  Sanctae  Romanae  Ecclesiae  Cardinalibus,  nego- 
tiis  Fidei  Propagandae  praepositis  habuimus  diligen- 
tem,  demum  at  te  qui  ex  legitimo  es  matrimonio  pro- 
creatus,  et  in  aetate  etiam  legitima  es  constitutus,  et 
cujus  de  doctrina,  pietate,  et  studio,  in  animarum  salute 
procuranda,  cum  prudentia,  consilio,  et  rerum  gerenda- 
rum  peritia  conjuncta,  praeclara  extant  documenta, 
oculos  mentis  Nostrae  direximus.  Quibus  omnibus  se- 
dulo  perpensis,  teque  ab  quibusvis  excommunicationis, 
et  interdicti,  aliisque  ecclesiasticis  censuris,  sententiis, 
et  poenis  quovis  modo,  vel  quavis  de  causa  latis,  si  quas 
forte  incurristi,  hujus  tantum  rei  gratia  absolventes,  et 
absolutum  fore  censentes,  eamdem  Nashvillensem  Eccle- 
siam,  de  persona  tua  Nobis,  et  memoratis  Cardinalibus, 
ob  tuorum  exigentiam  meritorum  accepta,  de  Fratrum 
eorumdem  consilio,  Auctoritate  Nostra  Apostolica  pro- 
videmus,  teque  illi  in  episcopum  praeficimus  et  Past- 
orem,  curam,  regimen,  et  administrationem  dictae  Ec- 
clesiae tibi  in  spiritualibus  et  temporalibus  plenarie  com- 
mittendo,  in  Illo  qui  dat  gratiam,  et  largitur  dona  con- 
fisi,  quod  dirigente  Domino  actus  tuos,  praefata  Ecclesia 
per  tuae  circumspectionis  industriam  et  studium,  utili- 
ter  et  prospere  dirigatur,  grataque  in  ipsis  spiritualibus 
et  temporalibus  suscipiat  incrementa.  Jugum  igitur 
Domini  tuis  humeris  impositum,  prompta  devotione 
animi  complectens,  curam,  et  administrationem  prae- 
dictas  ita  studeas  fideliter,  prudenterque  exercere,  ut 
praedicta  Ecclesia  provide  se  gaudeat  gubernatori,  et 
fructuoso  administratori  fuisse  commissam,  tuque,  prae- 
ter  aeternae  retributionis  praemium,  Nostram  quoque, 
et  Apostolicae  Sedis  uberius  exinde  consequi  merearis 
benedictionem  et  gratiam.  Ceterum  ad  ea  quae  in  tuae 
cedere  possunt  commoditatis  augmentum,  favorabiliter 
intendentes,  tibi,  ut  a  quocumque  quern  malueris  An- 


372       THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

tistite  Catholico,  gratiam  et  communionem  Sedis  Apos- 
tolicae  habente,  accitis,  et  in  hoc  illi  assistentibus  duobus 
Episcopis,  et  nisi  reperiri  commode  queant,  duobus  pres- 
byteris  saecularibus,  seu  cujuscumque  ordinis  efc  in- 
situti  regularibus,  similemque  gratiam,  et  communionem 
Sedis  Apostolicae    habentibus,    munus    Consecrationis 
libere  et  licite  possis,  et  valeas;  atque  eidem  Antistiti, 
ut  receptis  a  te  prius  Catholicae  Fidei  professione,  juxta 
articulos  pridem  a  Sede  Nostra  propositos,  ac  Nostro, 
et  Ecclesiae  Romanae  nomine  fidelitatis  debitae  solito 
juramento,  praedictum  munus  tibi,  Auctoritate  Nostra, 
impendere  licite  valeat,  eadem  Auctoritate,  plenam,  et 
liberam  harum  scire  tribuimus  facultatem.     Volumus 
autem  atque  praecipimus,  ut  nisi  receptis  a  te  prius  fidei 
Catholicae  professione,  et  fidelitatis,  per  dictum  Anti- 
stitem,  juramento  hujusmodi,  ipse  Antistes  consecra- 
tionis  munus  tibi  impendere,  tuque  illud  recipere  prae- 
sumpseritis,  idem  Antistes  a  Pontificalis  officii  exercitio, 
et  tarn  ipse,  quam  tu  ab  regimine  et  administratione  Ec- 
clesiarum  vestrarum  eo  ipso  suspensi  sitis.     Non  ob- 
stantibus  Apostolicis,  ac    in  universalibus    provincial- 
ibusque,  et  synodalibus  Conciliis  editis  generalibus  vel 
specialibus  Constitutionibus,  et  Ordinationibus,  necnon 
dictae  Ecclesiae  Nashvillensis  etiam  juramento,  con- 
firmatione  Apostolica,  vel  quavis  alia  firmitate  roboratis 
statutis,  consuetudinibus,  ceterisque  contrariis  quibus- 
cumque.     Datum  Roame  apud  Sanctum  Petrum  sub- 
annulo  Piscatoris  die  VII  Julii  Anno  MDCCCLXV. 
Pontificate  Nostri  Anno  Vigesimo. 

(Seal)  N.  CARDLIS  PARACCIANI  CLARELLI. 


APPENDIX  373 

No.  3 — Letter  of  Cardinal  Simeoni  informing  Arch- 
bishop Feehan  of  his  elevation  to  the  Arch- 
bishopric. 

Illme  ac  Rme  Domine, 

Valde  gratulor  Ampl.  Tuae,  eo  quod  ad  dignitatem 
Archiepiscopalem  evehi  meruerit.  Porro  Emi  Patres 
hujus  S.  Congnis  de  Propaganda  Fide  in  comitiis  gen- 
eralibus  die  16  p.p.  Augusti,  sede  Chicagiensi  in  archi- 
episcopalem  evecta,  Te  primum  Archiepiscopum  nun- 
tiarunt.  Hanc  vero  resolutionem  S.  Smus  Dominus 
Noster  ratam  habuit  atque  confirmavit.  Hinc  quam 
primum  fieri  poterit  literas  apostolicas  in  forma  Brevis 
ad  te  mittam.  Interim  Tibi  significo  atque  totis  viribus 
hortor  ut  votis  S.  Congregationis  respondendum  cures, 
magno  animo  ad  novam  diocesim  accedas  ac  omnem  dili- 
gentiam  adhibeas  ut,  rebus  compositis,  tarn  electa  Ec- 
clesiae  Catholicae  in  America  portio,  tandem  optata 
pace  fruatur. 

Interea  Deum  precor  ut  Te  diutissime  sospitet. 
Romae  ex  Aed.  S.  C.  de  Ppda  Fide,  die  Tbris,  1880. 
A.  T. 

Uti  frater  addictissimus, 

JOANNES  CARD.  SIMEONI, 

Praefectus. 

R.  P.  D.  PATRITIO  FEEHAN, 
Episcopo  Nashvillensi. 

No.  4 — Second  letter  concerning  the  same  subject: 
Illme  ac  Rme  Domine, 

Inclusum  hisce  literis  accipies  Aplcum  Breve  quo  ad 
Sedem  Archiepiscopalem  Chicagi  SSmus  Dnus  Noster 
Te  transferre  dignatus  est.  Cum  rursus  Tibi  gratulor 
de  hoc  novo  honoris  testimonio  quo  ab  Aplca  Sede 
cumularis,  precor  Amplitudinem  Tuam,  ut  omnia  in 


374       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

diocesi  Nashvillensi  ita  disponat,  ut  durante  Sedis  vac- 
antis  tempore,  nullum  detrimentum  Ecclesia  capere 
possit. 

Interim  precor  Deum  ut  Te  diutissime  sospitet. 
Romae  ex  Aed.  S.  C.  de  Pnda  Fide,  die  30  Septem- 
bris  1880,  A.  T. 

Uti  frater  addictissimus, 

JOANNES  CARD.  SIMEON i, 

Praefectus. 

R.  P.  D.  PATRITIO  FEEHAN, 
Episcopo  Nashvillensi. 

No.  5 — Bull  of  the  Elevation  of  Bishop  Feehan  to  the 
Archdiocese  of  Chicago,  September  10,  1880. 

Venerabili  Fratri  Patritio  Feehan, 

Episcopo  Nashvillensi. 

Venerabilis  Frater  salutem  et  Apostolicam  Benedic- 
tionem. 

LEO  PP.  XIII. 

Apostolatus  officium,  meritis  licet  imparibus,  Nobis 
ex  Alto  commissum,  quo  Ecclesiarum  omnium  regimini 
Divina  providentia,  utiliter  exequi,  adjuvante  Domino, 
satagentes,  solliciti  corde  reddimur  et  solertes,  ut  cum 
de  Ecclesiarum  ipsarum  regiminibus  agitur  commit- 
tendis,  tales  eis  in  Pastores  praeficere  studeamus,  qui 
populum  suae  curae  creditum  non  solum  doctrina  verbi, 
sed  etiam  exempli  boni  operis  sciant  informare,  com- 
missasque  sibi  Ecclesias  in  statu  pacifico  et  tranquillo 
velint  et  valeant,  auctore  Domino,  salubriter  regere,  et 
feliciter  gubernare.  Dudum  siquidem  provisiones  Ec- 
clesiarum omnium  nunc  vacantium,  quaeque  in  poste- 
rum  vacabunt,  ordinationi  et  provisioni  Nostrae  reser- 
vavimus,  decernentes  ex  tune  irritum  et  inane,  quidquid 
secus  super  his  a  quoquam  quavis  auctoritate  scienter 


APPENDIX  375 

vel  ignoranter  contigerit  attentari.  Postmodum  vero 
absolute,  ratione  gravis  diuturnaeque  valitudinis  ejus, 
Venli  Fratre  Jacobo  Duggan  a  vinculo  quo  tenebatur, 
Ecclesiae  Chicagiensis,  eadem  Sede  ita  vacante,  ad 
honorem  et  dignitatem  Archiepiscopatus  evecta,  Nos  ad 
ejusdem  Archiepiscopalis  Ecclesiae  Chicagiensis  pro- 
visionem  celerem  atque  felicem,  in  qua  nemo  praeter 
Nos  se  potest,  poteritve  immiscere,  supradictis  decreto 
et  reservatione  obsistentibus,  ne  ilia  longae  vacationis 
exponatur  incommodis,  Paterno  ac  sollicito  studio  in- 
tendentes,  post  deliberationem,  quam  de  praeficiendo 
eidem  Ecclesiae  Archiepiscopali  personam  utilem  et 
fructuosam,  cum  Venlibus  Fratribus  Nostris  S.  R.  E. 
Cardinalibus  negotiis  Propagandae  Fidei  propositis, 
habuimus  diligentem,  demum  at  Te,  Venlis  Frater,  qui 
zelo  Domus  Dei,  sempiternaeque  animarum  salutis  sol- 
licitudine,  doctrina,  prudentia  conspicuus,  Nashvillen- 
sem  Ecclesiam  summa  hucusque  cum  laude  es  modera- 
tus,  oculos  mentis  Nostrae  convertimus.  Itaque  Te  a 
vinculo,  quo  Nashvillensi  Ecclesiae  adstrictus  detineris, 
de  Apostolicae  potestatis  Nostrae  plenitudine  solventes 
necnon  a  quibusvis  excommunicationis  et  interdicti,  aliis- 
que  ecclesiasticis  censuris,  sententiis  et  poenis  quovis 
modo  vel  causa  latis,  quas  si  forte  incurreris,  hujus  tan- 
turn  rei  gratia  absolventes,  ac  absolutum  fore  censentes, 
de  eorum  Venlium  Fratrum  Nostrorum  consilio,  Apos- 
tolica  Auctoritate  Nostra,  hisce  Litteris  ad  praedictam 
Metropolitanam  Sedem  Chicagiensem  transferimus, 
tibique  ad  illam  transeundi  licentiam  impertimur,  Teque 
dictae  Ecclesiae  in  Archiepiscopum  praeficimus  et  Past- 
orem,  curam,  regimen,  et  administrationem  Ecclesiae 
ejusdem  in  spiritualibus  Tibi  ac  temporalibus  plenarie 
committemdo  in  Illo,  qui  dat  gratiam  et  largitur  dona 
confisi,  quod  dirigente  Domino  actus  tuos,  praef ata  EC- 


376      THE  LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

clesia  Chicagiensis  per  tuae  circumspectionis  industriam 
et  studium,  utiliter  ac  prospere  dirigatur,  grataque  in 
spiritualibus  ac  temporalibus  orthodoxa  religio  suscipiat 
incrementa.  Jugum  igitur  Domini  tuis  impositum  hu- 
meris  prompta  devotione  animi  amplectens,  curam  et 
administrationem  praefatas  ita  studeas  fideliter  pruden- 
terque  exercere,  ut  Ecclesia  praefata  gaudeat  se  provide 
gubernatori  ac  fructuoso  administratori  esse  commis- 
sam,  tuque  praeter  aeternae  retributionis  praemium, 
Nostram  quoque  et  Sedis  Apostolicae  uberius  exinde 
consequi  merearis  benedictionem  et  gratiam.  Non  on- 
stantibus,  quatenus  opus  sit,  Benedict!  XIV  Praedeces- 
soris  Nostri  super  Divne  Matm  aliisque  Constitutioni- 
bus  et  Ordinationibus  Apostolicis,  necnon  dictarum  Ec- 
clesiarum  etiam  juramento,  confirmatione  Apostolica, 
vel  quavis  firmitate  alia  roboratis  Statutis  et  consue- 
tudinibus,  ceterisque  contrariis  quibuscumque.  Datum 
Romae  apud  S.  Petrum  sub  Annulo  Piscatoris  die  X 
Septembris  MDCCCLXXX.  Pontificatus  Nostri 
Anno  Tertio. 

(Seal)  TH.  CARDLIS.  MERTEL. 

No.  6 — Bull  of  Erection  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago. 
September  21,  1880. 

LEO  PP.  XIII. 

AD  FUTURAM  REI  MEMORIAM.  Postquam 
Venerabilem  Fratrem  Jacobum  Duggan  a  vinculo,  quo 
tenebatur,  Chicagiensis  Ecclesiae  ob  gravem  diuturn- 
amque  ejus  infirmitatem  absolvimus,  eademque  ideo 
Ecclesia  suo  mansit  viduata  Pastore,  considerantes 
Chicagiensis  Civitatis  celebritatem,  Christifidelium  ipsa 
in  Diocesi  degentium  multiduninem,  liberamque,  qua 
inibi,  uti  par  est,  Ecclesia  fruitur,  temporalia  bona  pos- 
sidendi  facultatem,  in  id  consilii  venimus,  ut  Episcopa- 


APPENDIX  377 

lem  Sedem  Chicagiensem  ad  Metropolitanae  dignitatem 
evehamus.  Itaque,  suffragantibus  quoque  Venerabilibus 
Fratribus  Nostris  S.  Romanae  Ecclesiae  Cardinalibus 
consilio  Propagandae  Fidei  praepositis,  memoratam 
Chicagiensem  Ecclesiam  in  Archiepiscopalem  Sedem 
Apostolica  Auctoritate  Nostra,  harum  Litterarum  vi, 
evehimus,  eique  dioceses  Altonensem  et  Peorensem  suf- 
fraganeas  assignamus  et  constituimus.  Verum  novi 
hujusce  Archiepiscopatus  fines  seu  limites  aliquantulum 
immutamus;  a  meridionali  enim  illius  territorii  parte 
Comitatus  LaSalle,  Bureau,  Putnam,  Henry  et  Rock 
Island  divellimus  et  distrahimus,  eosque  Peorensi  ad- 
jicimus  Diocesi,  cujus  Ordinarius  turn  ob  distantiam, 
turn  ob  minorem  Fidelium  numerum  spiritualibus  eo- 
rumdem  Comitatuum  necessitatibus  facilius  et  satius 
consulere  poterit.  Haec  constituimus  et  edicimus, 
decernentes  has  Litteras  firmas,  validas  et  efficaces 
existere  et  fore,  suosque  plenarios  et  integros  effectus 
sortiri  et  obtinere ;  atque  illis,  ad  quos  spectat  et  in  f  utu- 
rum  spectabit,  in  omnibus  et  per  omnia  plenissime  suf- 
fragari;  sicque  in  praemissis  per  quoscumque  Judices 
ordinaries  et  delegates,  etiam  cautarum  Palatii  Apos- 
tolici  Auditores,  Sedis  Apostolicae  Nuncios,  et  S. 
Romanae  Ecclesiae  Cardinales  etiam  de  Latere  Legatos, 
sublata  eis  et  eorum  cuilibet  quavis  aliter  judicandi  et 
interpret andi  facultate  et  auctoritate,  judicari  ac  de- 
finiri  debere,  atque  irritum  et  inane  si  secus  super  his  a 
quoquam,  quavis  auctoritate  scienter  vel  ignoranter 
contigerit  attentari.  Non  obstantibus  Nostra  et  Can- 
cellariae  Apostolicae  regula  de  jure  quaesito  non  tol- 
lendo,  aliisque  Constitutionibus  et  Ordinationibus  Apos- 
tolicis,  necnon  dictae  Chicagiensis  Ecclesiae,  aliisque 
quibusvis  etiam  juramento,  confirmatione  Apostolica, 
vel  quavis  firmitate  alia  roboratis  statutis,  consuetudini- 


378       THE   LIFE   OF   ARCHBISHOP  FEEHAN 

bus,  ceterisque  licet  special!  atque  individua  mentione  ac 
derogatione  dignis  in  contrarium  facientibus  quibus- 
cumque.  Datum  Romae  apud  S.  Petrum  sub  Annulo 
Piscatoris,  die  XXI  Septembris  MDCCCLXXX. 
Pontificatus  Nostri  Anno  Tertio. 

(Seal)  TH.  CARDLIS  MERTEL. 

No.  7 — Letter  from  the  Apostolic  Delegate  concerning 
the  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Crowley. 

Washington,  D.  C. 
Apostolic  Delegation, 

United  States  of  America. 

No.  1393. 

Cum  Sacra  Congregatio  de  Propaganda  Fide  cog- 
noverit  quosdam  Archdioceseos  Chicagensis  sacerdotes 
electionem  Rdi.  P.  J.  Muldoon  ad  Episcopatum  aegro 
animo  sustulisse,  et  contra  ejus  consecrationem  totis 
viribus,  pertinaciter,  injuriose,  protestatos  esse,  litteris 
sub.  No.  45708,  Romae  datis  die  XXI  Augusti,  1901, 
huic  Apostolicae  Delegation!  onus  commisit  stricte  vigi- 
landi  ne  res  adeo  scandalose  procederent,  simulque  can- 
onice  monendi,  et,  quatenus  opus  sit,  ecclesiasticis  cen- 
suris  plectendi  quoscumque  reos  invenire  accideret. 

Nunc  autem,  cum  tuto  cognoverimus  Rdum  Jeremiam 
Crowley,  ejusdem  Archidioceseos  sacerdotem,  praedictae 
election!  et  consecration!  acerrimam  oppositionem  prae- 
buisse,  et  ab  ea  neque  modo  desistere,  siquidem  prae 
oculis  habemus: 

lo,  libellum  tribunal!  civil!  a  se  oblatum, 
2o,  defensionem  quam  ejus  advocatus  parare  conatus 

est, 

3o,  promissionem  a  se  scripto  f actam  de  proximo  pub- 
licando  opere  quo  tristis  Archidioceseos  status, 
in  sua  mente  existens,  narraturus  sit, 


APPENDIX  379 

Eumdem  Rdum  Jeremiam  Crowley  pro  sui  ipsius 
bono  et  ecclesiae  decore  in  Domino  rogamus  ut  a  sua 
pertinacia  desistat,  eumque  simul  peremptorie,  una  vice 
pro  tribus,  monemus  ut  signa  certa  resipiscentiae  et 
reparationis  ostendat.  Quod  si  noluerit,  et  si  infra 
decem  dierum  spatio  a  die  hujus  monitionis  eidem  noti- 
ficatae  computando  scandalum  non  reparaverit, 

lo,  desistendo  a  lite    coram    tribunali    civili    prose- 
quenda, 

2o,  ominimode  libri  promissi  impressionem  prohi- 
bendo,  vel,  si  jam  impressus  fuerit,  eumdem 
non  publicando, 

3o,  reparationem  publicam  publici  scandali  dando, 

4o,  seseque  auctoritati  Archiepiscopi  subjiciendo,  eum 
EXCOMMUNICATUM    IPSO    FACTO 
declaramus,  quamque  excommunicationem  huic 
Apostolicae  Delegationi  reservamus. 

Mandamus  praeterea  Curiae  Archiepiscopali  Chi- 
cagensi  executionem  hujus  decreti,  cui  igitur  onus 
committimus  has  presentes  litteras  praedicto  Rdo  Jere- 
miae  Crowley  consignandi,  servatis  jure  servandis;  quod 
si  idem  Rdus  Jeremias  Crowley  absens  sit  vel  reperiri 
non  possit,  edictis  penes  ecclesias  vel  alio  loco  publico 
propositis,  post  decem,  uti  diximus,  dierum  spatium,  a 
pertinacia  non  desistente,  volumus  hoc  decretum  eff ec- 
tum  suum  similiter  sortiturum. 

Datum  Washingtonii,  Ex  aedibus  Apostolicae  Dele- 
gationis,  die  XIII  Octobris,  1901. 

(Seal)  SEBASTIANUS,  CAKD.  MARTINELLI, 

Pro-Delegatus  Apostolicus. 


No.  8 — Excommunication  of  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Crow- 
ley. 

Chicago,  October  26,  1901. 
Rev.  Dear  Sir: 

Whereas,  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Crowley,  a  priest  exer- 
cising faculties  in  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago,  has  griev- 
ously violated  the  laws  and  discipline  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  and  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago, 
and  as  he  persists  contumaciously  in  his  unlawful  con- 
duct, therefore,  after  due  warning  from  the  Apostolic 
Delegation  of  the  United  States,  as  shown  by  the  above 
document,  which  was  delivered  to  the  Rev.  Jeremiah 
J.  Crowley  in  person,  on  Wednesday,  the  16th  day  of 
October,  1901,  and  the  said  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Crowley 
having  failed  to  comply  with  the  conditions  laid  down 
by  the  Apostolic  Delegation  within  the  period  of  time 
allotted  to  him  in  the  said  decree, 

We  hereby  declare  publicly  and  solemnly  that  the 
Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Crowley  is  excommunicated  from  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  and  all  participation  therein, 
according  to  the  decree  of  His  Eminence  Sebastian 
Cardinal  Martinelli,  Pro-Delegate  Apostolic. 

The  Effects  of  this  most  grave  censure  of  the  Church 
are: 
1st.     He  is  cut  off  from  the  communion  and  society  of 

the  faithful. 

2d.  The  faithful  are  forbidden  under  severe  penalty 
to  hold  communion  with  him  or  assist  him  in 
his  unlawful  conduct. 

3d.  He  cannot  receive  or  administer  any  of  the  Sacra- 
ments of  the  Church.  Should  he  attempt  to 
give  absolution  in  the  tribunal  of  penance,  said 
absolution  is  invalid  and  sacrilegious. 


APPENDIX  381 

4th.  He  cannot  be  present  or  assist  at  any  of  the  public 
exercises  or  offices  of  religion  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  nor  can  he  be  present  at 
Mass,  Vespers,  or  any  other  public  services  in 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
5th.  He  cannot  receive  or  fill  any  office  within  the 

gift  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
6th.     Should  he  die  whilst  under  this  excommunication 

he  will  be  deprived  of  Christian  burial. 
All  the  Pastors  of  this  Archdiocese  are  hereby  com- 
manded, sub  poena  suspensionis,  to  attach  the  above 
decree  and  this  letter  on  the  walls  of  the  sacristies  of 
their  churches  for  thirty  days,  in  such  a  manner  that 
it  may  be  easily  seen  and  read  by  all. 

This  order  goes  into  effect  immediately  upon  receipt 
thereof.  Given  at  Chicago  on  this,  the  26th  day  of 
October,  1901. 

PATRICK  A.  FEEHAN, 

Archbishop  of  Chicago. 
By  order  of  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop, 
F.  J.  BARRY, 

Chancellor. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBAN* 

B.F295K  C001 

THE  LIFE  OF  PATRICK  AUGUSTINE  FEEHAN,  31 


30112025405991 


